The airport was opened on 15 March 1997 and replaced Busselton Aerodrome, established in 1940, that was used extensively during World War II. A largely government-subsidised air service ran from Perth Airport to Busselton from 1997 to 2001 ; it was operated bySkywest Airlines, Maroomba Airlines, and Skippers Aviation. In 2007, mining companyRio Tinto launched its first flight from the airport for fly-in fly-out workers at its mines. Skywest Airlines/Virgin Australia Regional Airlines ran a service from Perth to Albany Airport via Busselton from July 2011 until December 2014, before scaling it back to a Perth-Busselton route and cancelling it altogether in April 2015. Between June and December 2014, upgrades to the terminal were made. In June 2015, funding was allocated for further upgrades and redevelopment of the airport. As part of the funding agreement, Margaret River was officially added to the title of the airport in October 2015. In 2017, the airport commenced the $69.7 million redevelopment which included:
lengthening, widening and strengthening of the existing runway to facilitate Code E aircraft;
a new 4 bay Code E aircraft parking apron and connecting taxiways;
infrastructure to support the development of freight and commercial opportunities.
As part of the development, a new terminal building was proposed to be built in front of the new Code E Apron to help facilitate future interstate and international services. In early 2018, the Western Australian government placed the construction of the new terminal building on hold until a major commercial airline committed to interstate services that were shown to be viable. In June 2019, it was reported that Jetstar Airways were the most likely to begin a Busselton-Melbourne route within six to nine months. This route was confirmed in September 2019, with a heavily subsidised Jetstar service that was to begin in March 2020. As a result of the route confirmation, the Western Australian government announced it would spend an extra $3.2 million upgrading the airport's terminal. The route has been postponed indefinitely due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. In April 2019, the airport was designated as an international alternate airport to Perth; previously the closest airports with this designation were Learmonth and Adelaide.
Airlines and destinations
Facilities
Busselton Margaret River Airport has a single 2,460 metre long by 45 metre wide runway and is rated at Code E with capability to handle aircraft the size and weight of the Airbus A330. Precision Approach Path Indicator is available for both ends and low-intensity runway lights can be activated by radio. Two illuminated windsocks are on site. Non-precision instrument approaches include GNSS approaches to both runways, and a sole NDB approach to runway 21.
