The airport was built during the 1950s as a replacement for the old Brno airport located in Slatina (northeast of Tuřany airport). In 1967, a new departure hall construction began. During the 1980s, the airport was handed over for use by the Czechoslovak air force, and civil operations were reduced to a minimum. Civil flights were operated during exhibitions and fairs taking place at Brno Exhibition Center. In 1986, the new departure hall and related facilities were completed. After the fall of communism in 1989, the airport returned to civil use, and was operated by the state-owned Czech Airport Authority.