Construction and early history

The airport was originally constructed by the Japanese in 1943 during World War II, serving as a military airbase to support their operations against Allied forces during the occupation of Indonesia. It was initially known as Blangbintang Airport, named after the district where it is located. Before this airport was built, there had been another airport in Lhoknga, constructed by the Dutch colonial government. This airport was seized by the Japanese during their invasion in 1942 and repurposed as a military airbase. Together with Blangbintang, both airbases became key strongholds for the Japanese during the war.

In its early years, Blangbintang Airport featured a T-shaped runway measuring 1,400 m × 30 m (4,593 ft × 98 ft). Following Japan's surrender, the airbase remained closed for several years. During this period, the Japanese left behind a large stockpile of weapons at the base, which was eventually seized by local Acehnese militias. During the Indonesian National Revolution, the airfield was taken over by the Indonesian Air Force. When the Dutch launched Operation Kraai in late 1948, most airfields operated by the Indonesian Air Force were captured, with Blangbintang Airfield being the notable exception. However, Indonesian Air Force personnel subsequently abandoned the airfield after receiving reports that the Dutch were preparing to launch an assault on Aceh.

After the Indonesian National Revolution and the Dutch withdrawal from the region, the airport remained inactive for several years before being reopened in 1953 by the newly independent Indonesian government. The first aircraft to land after its reopening was a DC-3 Dakota, known in its military variant as the C-47.

In 1968, the airport underwent a major runway upgrade that involved extending, widening, and repaving the runway to 1,850 m × 45 m (6,070 ft × 148 ft), allowing the airport to accommodate larger aircraft such as the Fokker F28. Further development took place in 1993 and 1994 ahead of the Musabaqah Tilawatil Quran (MTQ) festival held in Banda Aceh, during which the runway was extended again to 2,250 m × 45 m (7,382 ft × 148 ft). This upgrade enabled the airport to accommodate larger aircraft such as the Douglas DC-9 and Boeing 737.

Contemporary history

In 1994, management of the airport was transferred to Angkasa Pura II, which was later rebranded as InJourney Airports. Just a year later, the airport was renamed to its current name in honor of Sultan Iskandar Muda, a prominent ruler of the Aceh Sultanate who reigned from 1607 to 1636 and is recognized as a national hero of Indonesia. He is widely remembered for ushering in the golden age of the Aceh Sultanate, during which it became a prosperous and dominant power in the region. Sultan Iskandar Muda is also celebrated for his resistance against Portuguese colonial expansion in Southeast Asia. This was followed by another runway extension in 1999, increasing its length to 2,500 meters to accommodate medium-sized aircraft such as the Airbus A330, in preparation for the commencement of Hajj flights for pilgrims traveling to Jeddah.

During the insurgency in Aceh, the airport served as a strategic launch point for aircraft of the Indonesian Air Force, which carried out attacks on Acehnese rebels. It also became a key arrival point for Indonesian troops preparing for military operations in the region. On 19 May 2003, 458 Indonesian paratroopers landed near the airport as part of an offensive against Acehnese rebels.

The airport sustained significant damage following the powerful earthquake and tsunami that devastated Aceh on 26 December 2004. However, the airport was fortunate to avoid direct impact from the tsunami waves, enabling it to remain operational. During the emergency response phase, the airport played a crucial role as a central hub for international aid. All logistics sent to support the people of Aceh were processed through the airport before being distributed to various affected regions. Additionally, the area surrounding the airport was utilized as a temporary refuge for displaced individuals during the crisis.

Sultan Iskandar Muda International Airport got World's Best Airport for Halal Travellers in the World Halal Tourism Awards 2016.

In 2020, all international flights to and from the airport were suspended amid the COVID-19 pandemic. International services resumed in October 2022 following the easing of travel restrictions, with AirAsia restoring flights to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.