The airport initially started its operations in 1983, although much of its destinations were national. After the Gulf war it became an international airport with its first international flight to Dubai, UAE.

The airport has three terminals which are capable of displacing over three million people annually. There is a complex web of conveyor belts and luggage transport facilities put into place by IBM. Larestan International Airport has one of the most efficient systems in displacing passengers and luggage having ranked the best airport in lost or delayed luggage. Flight delays are also very rare and the airport ranks ahead of Imam Komeini Airport, Mehrabad Airport and Shiraz Airport. The newest terminal, Terminal 3, is an innovative facility within the Middle East as it is the only "green" airport terminal. The electricity is generated by solar panels, as the region gets substantial amount of sunlight. Power conservation has also been utilized as the air conditioning system is routinely turned off during the peak season.

The airport has gone to extreme (and expensive measures) in recent past to enhance customer satisfaction. The airport has invested heavily in big screen HD TVs to be put around the airport. The Duty Free shops all around the airport provide a shopping experience that is second to none in the region. In line with increasing customer satisfaction, the airport has hired more healthy looking soldiers (officers) when patting people down. Although it cannot be fully verified, the same measures have taken place for the ladies section.

Larestan International Airport has started to expand terminal 1 in order to be A380 compliant. The runway will be operational in 2009 and is hoped to be the recipient of Emirates Airline A380 flights to the region.