1923–1994

It is unknown when the first aerodrome in Nizhny Novgorod was built, but its location was 0.5 km north from where the "Moscow" movie theater stands today. This aerodrome was named Nizhny Novgorod Airport. On 23 July 1923, the first domestic and regular flight in Russia was from Khodynka Airport, Moscow, to Nizhny Novgorod Airport, Nizhny Novgorod. The flight was carried on a 4-seated Junkers F. 13.

In 1937, due to Gorky's (Nizhny Novgorod's official name between 1932 and 1990) spontaneous population increase, the USSR Council of Ministers ordered that a new aerodrome be built outside the city's municipal district. In 1938, the new "Strigino" airport completed construction. Today, Nizhny Novgorod International Airport is still located in the same general location as the Strigino airport. The new runways could handle the Douglas DC-3, Junker F. 13, Junker A. 35, and other light-weight aircraft.

In World War 2, the airport served as an air base for the 201st air division. In 1950, 5 years after the war, the division was regrouped into the 148th air division and relocated to air bases in the Far East.

In 1963, a new domestic terminal began construction. The terminal completed construction in 1965, and had its first passengers that same year. This terminal is still used today as Strigino's main facility for departures and arrivals. Also in 1963, a new enterprise "Nizhny Novgorod United Air Group" was formed. This group operated the airport from 1963 to 1994. From 1966 to 1973, a new administrative zone, repair hangar, cargo terminal, and hostel completed construction. Additionally, Strigino's apron was expanded and runway lengthened and reinforced.

Between 1976 and 1983, a second concrete runway finished optimization and a 6-storey "Aeroflot" hotel was built. In 1989, Strigino hit it passenger traffic record of approximately 1,030,000. Renovations of Terminal A (main terminal) was made in 1991 after the dissolution of the USSR, and in 1993 in preparation for gaining international status.

1994–2011

In 1994, after the fall of the Soviet Union and a rapid increase in international flights, and after the airport passed the ICAO Category I standards, Strigino was given international status. Also in 1994, the "Nizhny Novgorod United Air Group" was split into 3 new companies: the state-owned "Nizhny Novgorod International Airport", the "Nizhny Novgorod Airlines" airline company, and the "Aeronavigation NN".

In 2003, after a steady decrease in passenger traffic and a lack of sufficient funds, Nizhny Novgorod International Airport went bankrupt and was forced to host multiple auctions. In 2004, the traffic rate began to rise again, but at a relatively low pace. This was due to a certain locked cycle involving NN's low potential. Nizhny Novgorod needed more passengers in order to start receiving investments. But in order to have more passengers, a new modern terminal was needed to be built, to set a more pleasant environment. However, there weren't enough funds to build the new terminal, and the cycle refreshes.

2011–present

In 2011, HC Airports of Regions won their bid on the investment project into Nizhny Novgorod International Airport. In 2012, certain renovations were made in order to more efficiently exploit the existing facility whilst the new one was being built.

In June 2014, the construction of the new terminal started. It was planned to be open by December 2015 and to be able to handle around 300 passengers per hour. The second terminal will be built after the 2018 World Cup, which is being hosted by Nizhny Novgorod among other cities, and the aforementioned railway station is planned to be constructed during that time as well. The new terminal was opened on 29 December 2015 when the first flight, from Moscow, was directed there. The airport authority planned to redirect all the domestic flights to the new terminal by February 2016, and all the international flights by April 2016.