Colonial era

Abdul Rachman Saleh Airport was originally built by the Dutch colonial government between 1937 and 1940 as a military airbase for the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force (ML-KNIL). It was developed alongside other key airfields in Java, including Maospati Airfield (now Iswahyudi Air Base) in Magetan, Panasan Airfield (now Adisumarmo International Airport) in Solo, and Maguwo Airfield (now Adisutjipto Airport) in Yogyakarta. At the time, the airport was known as Singosari Airfield, named after the nearby town of Singosari, located about 4 miles to the northwest. Strategically located at the foot of the mountain, the airfield benefits from natural fortifications that make it less visible from the air. Fog frequently obscures the area, making it difficult for enemy aircraft to detect the airbase when passing overhead. Recognizing its defensive advantages, the Dutch established an air defense zone in the area. To support military operations, the Dutch government constructed a long runway capable of accommodating large military aircraft. This airfield was constructed with two parallel runways, each measuring 4,000 feet in length, which were camouflaged to avoid aerial observation. The area was disguised to resemble farmland, complete with railway tracks and barricades to protect parked aircraft. Two hangars were also built and painted with camouflage to blend in with the surrounding vegetation.

When the Pacific War of World War II broke out in late 1941, the airfield became the home base of the IIe Vliegtuiggroep (VIG-II, 2nd Air Group) of the ML-KNIL. The unit comprised one afdeling (division) operating twelve Martin B-10 bombers with three reserve aircraft, as well as a patrouille (patrol unit) equipped with three additional Martin B-10s and one reserve aircraft. The patrol unit was mobilized at Kalijati Airfield from flight school personnel on 10 December 1941 and placed under the command of the Netherlands Naval Aviation Service (MLD). When the Japanese launched their invasion of the Dutch East Indies, the airfield became a joint Allied base, with aircraft of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) operating from it in support of Dutch forces. On 20 February 1942, the Tainan Air Group of the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service carried out a raid on Singosari Airfield using nine Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighters, destroying five USAAF B-17 Flying Fortress aircraft and injuring several airmen. By early March, as the situation became increasingly untenable, most Allied aircraft were withdrawn to Broome, Australia. The airfield was ultimately captured by Japanese forces in late March 1942.

Following its capture, the airfield was used as a base by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service. Thousands of Allied prisoners of war were forced to pave the grass airstrip with tarmac and repair damaged sections of the facility, under threat of execution by their Japanese captors if they refused to comply.

Following Japan’s surrender in August 1945, the base was taken over by the Tentara Keamanan Rakyat (People’s Security Army), the predecessor of the Indonesian National Armed Forces, along with a number of remaining Japanese aircraft. The Japanese handed over weapons belonging to the airfield security detachment, anti-aircraft guns, and 105 aircraft, of which 12 were airworthy while the rest were damaged. At the time, the facility was known as Bugis Airfield. Some of the captured Japanese aircraft were later repaired and used to distribute propaganda leaflets. Many of the Indonesian aircraft stationed at Bugis Airfield were destroyed on the ground during Dutch air raids carried out as part of Operation Product in July 1947. Some of the surviving aircraft later took part in an attack on Dutch positions in Ambarawa, Central Java, on 29 July 1947. The airfield itself was captured by Dutch forces on 30 July 1947 following a major offensive. The airfield was subsequently reused as a base by the ML-KNIL for the remainder of the Indonesian National Revolution.

Post-independence era

Following the Dutch recognition of Indonesian sovereignty, Dutch forces withdrew from the airfield. A handover ceremony between the ML-KNIL and the Indonesian Air Force (AURI) was held on 17 April 1950. In 1952, the airbase was officially renamed Abdul Rachman Saleh Air Force Base, in honor of Abdul Rachman Saleh, a national hero from the revolution and one of the pioneers of the Indonesian Air Force. For the following years, the airbase was used exclusively for military operations.

In 1982, the airport began serving commercial flights operated by Merpati Nusantara Airlines on the Jakarta–Malang–Denpasar route, but the service was discontinued shortly afterward. Commercial operations did not resume until 1994, when the airport began serving as a secondary airport to alleviate congestion at Juanda International Airport in Surabaya. At the time, Merpati Nusantara Airlines resumed operations at the airport using Fokker F28 aircraft. However, frequent flight delays between 1996 and 1997 led to a decline in passenger demand, with the airline's load factor falling to 14.54%.