Construction and early history

Planning for the establishment of an airfield in Ketapang began around 1957 following a proposal by the Ketapang Regency government to construct an airport in Kalinilam, after which the airfield was initially named. Development of the airfield was initially carried out through community self-help efforts (gotong royong), with the site occupying land temporarily made available by local residents. The airfield, constructed on a 700-by-70-metre site, commenced operations in July 1958. By around 1967, development of the airport had resumed, again involving local government employees and the wider community. At the time, the airfield was capable of accommodating small aircraft, including the Cessna 185 operated by Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF). The aircraft was frequently chartered by the local government for travel between Ketapang and Pontianak, the provincial capital. However, the airfield did not yet have regular commercial air services.

Around 1969, Alcomin, a subsidiary of the American aluminum company Alcoa, conducted surveys for aluminum deposits in West Kalimantan, with its activities centered in Ketapang. With the approval of the local government, the company undertook improvements and expansion of Kalinilam Airfield to support its aviation operations, including extending the runway to accommodate larger aircraft such as the Fokker F27. However, Alcomin's operations in West Kalimantan were short-lived, and following the company's departure in the 1970s, the airfield saw only limited use.

The airport was reactivated and upgraded between 1974 and 1975 as part of a government initiative to establish 16 rural airstrips across Indonesia, aimed at improving air connectivity to remote and underserved areas. On 15 July 1976, Kalinilam Airfield was officially inaugurated by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and designated as a rural airstrip (lapangan terbang perintis), marking the beginning of regular scheduled air services to Ketapang. Merpati Nusantara Airlines subsequently began operating pioneering services between Pontianak and Ketapang, as well as a route connecting Ketapang with Pangkalan Bun and Semarang. The Pontianak–Ketapang service was initially operated twice weekly, later increased to three times weekly, and eventually to daily service using de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft. That same year, the airfield was renamed Rahadi Oesman Airport, in honor of Rahadi Oesman, a Ketapang freedom fighter who served as a messenger conveying news of Indonesia's independence to Ketapang. He was killed by Dutch forces in a skirmish on 7 December 1945.

Air services subsequently expanded with the entry of Deraya Air, which operated services connecting Ketapang with Pontianak, Pangkalan Bun, and Semarang. The airline also operated, for a period, a longer route linking Pontianak, Ketapang, Tanjung Pandan, Pangkalpinang, and Palembang. Additional services were operated by Dirgantara Air Service to supplement Merpati's flights. These services were subsequently discontinued.

Passenger numbers declined in 1982 and 1983, partly as a result of rising aviation fuel prices, which led to higher airfares. Competition from passenger ships also contributed to the decline, following the introduction of a twice-weekly Pontianak–Ketapang service with fares that were comparatively lower than those for air travel.

Contemporary history

By the early 2000s, the airport was well connected to major cities across Indonesia, with services to several destinations in Kalimantan, including Pontianak, Pangkalan Bun, and Sampit, as well as cities on Java such as Semarang and Surabaya. At the time, the airport was served by several airlines, including Kalstar Aviation, TransNusa, and Trigana Air Service. In 2011, Aviastar launched direct flights between Ketapang and Soekarno–Hatta International Airport in Jakarta, operating two to three flights per week. The service was discontinued in 2016 and briefly resumed in 2017 before being discontinued again. Aviastar subsequently ceased operations in 2020, with the COVID-19 pandemic contributing to the suspension of its services. After nine years without a direct service, the Ketapang–Jakarta route was reactivated on 22 June 2026, when FlyJaya launched flights to Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport. FlyJaya subsequently also introduced a new route between Ketapang and Adisutjipto Airport in Yogyakarta on 20 July 2026.

Due to growing passenger numbers, the airport has faced increasing capacity constraints, further compounded by limited land available for expansion and development. As a result, proposals have been put forward to relocate the airport to accommodate future passenger growth and provide greater scope for expansion. Potential sites considered for a new airport include Tempurukan in Muara Pawan District, approximately 26 km from the existing airport, and Riam Berasap in Sukadana District, North Kayong Regency, approximately 65 km from the existing airport.