1921 Australia's first scheduled air mail service

Australia's first scheduled air mail service commenced on 5 December 1921 with a flight from Geraldton to Derby by West Australian Airways Ltd, flown by World War I veterans Maj. Norman Brearley DSO, MC, AFC and Lt. Len Taplin in a Bristol Tourer.

The airfield was originally located in what is now the Geraldton suburb of Utakarra before later moving to its current location in Moonyoonooka.

World War II

From 1941 to 1945, Geraldton Airport (by now located in Moonyoonooka) was the site of No. 4 Service Flying Training School RAAF during World War II.

The training school was formed in February 1941 and commenced flying the following month, responsible for intermediate and advanced instruction of pilots under the Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS). The school operated Avro Anson aircraft and by November 1941, two Fairey Battles and two de Havilland Fox Moths also operated at No. 4 SFTS.

In August 1943, No. 4 SFTS had a visit from an Avro Lancaster, "Queenie VI".

Two reserve squadrons were formed in response to the outbreak of war in the Pacific, though they never saw action. Flying activity was reduced towards the end of 1943, and the school was disbanded in May 1945, having graduated over 1,000 pilots. It re-formed as No. 87 Operational Base Unit, which was renamed Care and Maintenance Unit (CMU) Geraldton in May 1946. CMU Geraldton was disbanded in September 1947.

1945 Douglas DC-3 service commencement

In 1945, MacRobertson Miller Aviation Company (MMA) began Douglas DC-3 services to Geraldton with flight time of less than 2 hours to Perth. DC-3 services continued into the early 1960s.

1960s Fokker F-27 Friendship service commencement, Qantas B707 alternative landing site

In December 1959, MMA commenced flying the Fokker F27 to Geraldton, increasing passenger seats to 40 and halving the flight time to Perth to about one hour. The first F27 flight by MMA to Geraldton was by Captain Syd Goddard, a graduate of the former No. 4 Service Flying School which was based at Geraldton during World War II.

In 1962, Geraldton Airport was approved as an alternative landing airport should Perth Airport be unavailable, for Qantas Boeing 707s, one of the largest commercial airliners at the time.

1969 Duke and Duchess of Kent visit

On 28 August 1969, The Duke of Kent and Duchess of Kent visited Geraldton from Perth, flying on an RAAF BAC 1-11, marking the first landing at Geraldton by a large jet.

1971 Fokker F28 jet service commencement

Commencing 4 October 1971, MMA began flying 60-seat Fokker F28 jet aircraft to Geraldton, reducing the flight time from an hour to 45 minutes.

1974 Princess Anne visit

During the 1974 Royal Visit to Australia in which Queen Elizabeth II opened the Australian Parliament in Canberra and visited many towns across the country, Princess Anne stopped over in Geraldton.

1979 Brearley Terminal opens

The new Brearley Terminal, named after Sir Norman Brearley opens.

1985 BAE-146 service commencement

In 1985, MMA (now known as Airlines of Western Australia, a subsidiary of Ansett) introduced 75-seat BAE-146 aircraft to the Geraldton-Perth route, complementing the existing F-28 services.

1988 Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh visit

On 22 April 1988, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh visited Geraldton to proclaim Geraldton a City (formerly the Town of Geraldton).

They arrived at Geraldton Airport on an RAAF BAC 1-11, registration VH-FKG, captained by RAAF Wing Commander Michael Birks, a former Geraldton student.

1991 Shire of Greenough ownership and Fokker F50s

In 1991, the airport became owned by the Shire of Greenough, the neighbouring Shire to the City of Geraldton and the LGA responsible for Moonyoonooka.

The City of Geraldton and the Shire of Greenough would later amalgamate to become the City of Geraldton-Greenough in 2007, before amalgamating again with the Shire of Mullewa in 2011 to become the City of Greater Geraldton, the current owner and operator of Geraldton Airport.

Skywest Airlines (a subsidiary of Ansett Airlines) began flying Fokker F50 aircraft to Geraldton in the 90s and would continue to do so until February 2016.

2001 New $3.6m Greenough terminal opens

On 13 August 2001, WA Premier Geoff Gallop opened a brand new $3.6 million airport terminal at Geraldton Airport, known as the Greenough Terminal. Greenough Terminal replaced the Brearley Terminal as the main terminal for RPT flights.

2004 Fokker F100 (Skywest) service commencement

In June 2004, Skywest Airlines introduced Fokker F100 100-seat aircraft onto the Geraldton-Perth route to complement their existing F50 services.

2011 Qantas commencement

Qantas conducted its inaugural QantasLink flight to Geraldton on B717 aircraft VH-NXQ, captained by Andrew Hardey on 11 January 2011.