Prior to the war, the Dutch colonial government had already constructed another airfield in Manggar, which was used for commercial flights. In the 1930s, Balikpapan was identified as a strategic oil city in the Dutch East Indies and became part of early plans to develop international air routes between the Philippines and Java. Both Balikpapan and Tarakan were selected as key landing points, prompting airfield construction in the region, with Balikpapan’s development progressing relatively quickly. Although early progress experienced delays and periods of neglect, the Manggar Airfield near Balikpapan was completed and became operational in 1936, later serving Koninklijke Nederlandsch-Indische Luchtvaart Maatschappij (KNILM), the flag carrier of the Dutch East Indies, as well as military flights of the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force (ML-KNIL). Its importance grew as part of planned regional routes linking Java, Borneo, and New Guinea, as well as connections toward the Philippines via transit stops. During the late 1930s, the airfield saw increasing military and civilian activity, including visits by colonial military aircraft and officials. Due to Balikpapan’s strategic importance, particularly its oil resources, the city became an early target of Japanese forces during World War II. On 23 January 1942, Japanese troops landed in Balikpapan. Within days, Dutch forces collapsed. After securing the urban area, Japanese forces carried out mopping-up operations against remaining Dutch resistance and began rehabilitating Manggar Airfield on 26 January. The airfield was repaired on 27 January, and the following day nine Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighters of the 23rd Air Flotilla of the Imperial Japanese Navy landed there. By 30 January, the unit had established its headquarters at the airfield. To strengthen their military presence in Balikpapan and its surrounding areas, the Japanese built another airfield in 1942 to support their operational needs. This development was driven by the strategic importance of Balikpapan’s oil refineries. Originally named Sepinggan Airfield, it was named after the local area. The word Sepinggan comes from the phrase satu pinggan, with satu meaning "one" and pinggan meaning "large plate"—a symbol of unity and familial togetherness among the people of Balikpapan. The term originates from the Paser language, spoken by the Paser people who inhabit the coastal areas from Balikpapan Bay to Adang Bay, as well as the upstream regions of the Meratus Mountains. From 8 January to 9 July 1945, the airfield was heavily bombarded by Allied forces during the Battle of Balikpapan. On 2 July 1945, the Australian Army’s 2/14th Battalion captured the airfield with minimal resistance and immediately began repairs. The next day, on 3 July, the first Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Auster aircraft took off from the airfield. It remained in use by Allied forces until the end of the Pacific War. After the war, Manggar Airfield gradually fell into disuse, and development shifted to Sepinggan Airport due to its closer proximity to Balikpapan’s city center. The former site of Manggar Airfield has since been repurposed as an Indonesian Army base. Following the end of the war and the Dutch withdrawal from the region, the airport was transferred to Indonesian authorities. It became a public and commercial airport after its management was handed over to the Bureau of Civil Aviation (now the Directorate General of Civil Aviation) in 1960. On 9 January 1987, management was again transferred, this time to Perum Angkasa Pura I, which later became PT Angkasa Pura I and then InJourney Airports. A major renovation of the airport took place from 1991 to 1997, divided into two phases. The first phase, which began in 1991 and ended in 1994, focused on renovating the taxiway, passenger and cargo terminals, and extending the runway.