The present airport was built by the Portuguese Air Force, being inaugurated on 7 February 1961, as the Aerodrome-Base nº 3 (AB3, "Aeródromo-Base nº 3"). The base had an important role during the Angolan War of Independence. Besides the main airfield at Negage, the AB3 also controlled two satellite maneuver airfields, one at Maquela do Zombo (AM31) and the other at Toto (AM32).