1950 Admiral Arthur W. Radford, Commander-in-Chief of the US Pacific Fleet, envisioned a Naval Air Station in Western Pacific to enhance the Seventh Fleet capabilities.

1951 Construction of the Naval Air Station began. The Seabees, the Navy's famed mobile construction Battalions, tackled the project of moving mountains and tearing down the jungle to build an Air Station.

1952 Admiral Radford himself made his first landing on the CUBI strip.

1956 25 July. After five years of construction, CUBI Point was established as a Naval Air Station (NAS). It was named in honor of the Construction Battalion 1 (CUB1) that undertook the challenge. CUB1 point operated on all weather, 9,000 ft. runway capable of handling aircraft from all aircraft carriers. The airfield operated 24 hours a day and seven days a week. NAS CUB1 Point provided major training capability in the Western Pacific for Navy and Marine aircrews.

1991 Iraq invaded Kuwait and the Gulf War broke out. Subic Bay becomes the staging ground for one of the biggest US military operations since the Vietnam War.

Mt. Pinatubo volcano erupted in June burying the base under 18 to 36 inches of ash fall. In September, the Philippine Senate rejected the 10 years bases treaty extension.

1992 After intense lobbying by Olongapo residents, the Subic Bay Freeport and Special Economic Zone was created under Republic Act 7227.

24 November The U.S. Naval Facility was officially turned over to the Philippine Government through RA 7227, coinciding with the departure of the last American ship, helicopter carrier USS Belleau Wood from the naval base, ending 94 years of American military presence in the Philippines.

When the Americans left, the airport was operated with volunteer operational staff. The SBMA volunteers breathed life into what used to be the most strategic US Military, Air and Navy Station in the Asian Region.

16 December Twenty days after the Americans left, the airport ushered in its first commercial flight from Taiwan via Makung bringing in Taiwanese tourists visiting Subic.

1993 18 February The U.S. NAS Cubi Point was converted from a military to commercial international alternate airport and was named CUBI Point International Airport.

1 July CUBI Point International Airport was renamed the Subic Bay International Airport (SBIA).

24 November Marked the 1st anniversary of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority. Philippine Airlines B747-400 from the US Mainland landed at SBIA signaling the airport is open to all commercial aircraft operations.

1994 6 July SBMA procured a highly advanced radar system from Westinghouse, a company based in Baltimore, Maryland.

5 September The rehabilitation of the runway began with Hanjin International and FF. Cruz. The construction was completed on 30 March 1995 for Phase I and 30 May 1996 for Phase II.

15 October Alcatel Air Navigational System, a German based company, installed the navigational aids, the communication and meteorological equipment at the airport.

1995 30 April The airport formally began its commercial operations after the reconstruction. On its first year of operations, SBIA recorded 683 domestic flights from Air Ads, Pacific Air and Star Asia.

17 May Federal Express started its operation. FEDEX has made SBIA its Asian hub, making the airport an important point of delivery to the Asia Pacific Region.

13 December There was a runway mishap at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. SBIA was used as an alternate airport handling about 1,674 international passengers and 212 domestic passengers. The airport accommodated four B747, Airbus and DC8. Airlines diverted were ASIANA, Rich International, Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airlines and Philippine Airlines.

1996 15 January Work commenced on the new passenger terminal. A Japanese-Filipino construction firm named Summa Kumagai bagged the contract to convert an old military hangar into a modern and international standard terminal. The blueprint was a 100,000 sqm terminal that would include a 450 seat departure lounge, 150 seat restaurant and a range of retail outlets.

3 November Inauguration of the New Passenger Terminal. SBIA was all set in preparation of the big national event showcasing the New Philippines as it hosts the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders' Summit Meeting (APEC'96) of 18 Heads of States.

25 November The arrival of the 18 Heads of State of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).

28 November American artist Winefred Potenza, widely known for her painting "The Heart of the World" visited Subic Bay. She made a week exhibit at SBIA's new passenger terminal which featured 18 hearts representing friendship and goodwill of the eighteen economies of APEC. During her stay, Potenza painted "The Heart of Subic Freeport", to acknowledge the spirit of volunteerism, sacrifice and hard work to bring better future for themselves and their children.

1997 30 April Marks the 2nd anniversary of SBIA.

30 August SBIA achieved the 100,000th passenger during the first three quarters of a year in operation.

3 November SBIA marked the first anniversary of the New passenger terminal. The highlights of the celebration is the recognition of the individuals and corporate groups for having distinguished itself as a free entrepreneur in the founding year of the SBIA Passenger Terminal.