In 1940, Wicomico County and the City of Salisbury began construction of the airport under a joint agreement with the Federal Works Progress Administration. Originally encompassing 695 acres, the project cost $1.5 million. Today, the airport spans roughly 1,000 acres, making it the second largest in the state of Maryland.
Below is a chronology of major changes and events which have taken place over the decades:
- 1940 - Airport construction begins.
- 1944 - Airport is completed and leased to U.S. Navy.
- 1946 - Airfield Operating Corp. leases airport. Business activity begins. / Chesapeake Airways begins commercial service to Easton, Baltimore, and Washington.
- 1948 - Construction of ramp, access road, and original terminal building.
- 1949 - City and County resume management of airport. / All American Airways supersedes Chesapeake Airways.
- 1950 - Allegheny Airlines supersedes All American Airways.
- 1958 - Airport Commission created, becomes responsible for airport operation.
- 1960 - 1969 - Various improvement projects, including runway resurfacing and installation of taxiway lights.
- 1968 - Henson Aviation, under contract with Allegheny Airlines, begins scheduled commuter service.
- 1969 - Allegheny discontinues service.
- 1970 – 1979 - Construction projects include lengthening runway 14/32 by 500 feet and installation of an instrument landing system. / Additional land acquisitions increases airport size to approximately 820 acres.
- 1971 - City of Salisbury relinquishes its interest in the airport to Wicomico County. County becomes sole owner.
- 1976 - Henson Aviation builds hangar-office complex.
- 1978 - Maryland State Police establish Medevac helicopter base.
- 1983 - Henson Aviation continues service, but now under contract to Piedmont Airlines.
- 1986 - Pennsylvania Airlines, under contract with Allegheny, begins commuter service.
- 1988 - Pennsylvania Airlines discontinues service.
- 1989 - United Express begins commuter service, but discontinues after eight months despite profitability of routes.
- 1991 - New 26,000-sq.-ft. terminal building opens.
- 1993 - U.S. Airways purchases Henson Aviation and changes Henson’s name to Piedmont Airlines.
- 1999 - Air-traffic control tower begins service.
- 2006 - Multi-year process begins to rehabilitate and extend runway 14/32.
- 2012 - Conclusion of runway rehabilitation and extension. Runway 14/32 grows 900 feet in length to 6,400 feet.
- 2014 - Reconstruction of runway 5/23 begins.
- 2015 - American Airlines merges with U.S. Airways. Piedmont becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of American. / Piedmont receives approximately 20 Embraer ERJ-145 jet aircraft from American.
- 2016 - To accommodate future jet service, the airport announces plans to further extend runway 14/32 to a total length of 7,000 feet.
