1915
• First Military Aircraft took off from Fort Brown Military Reservation to observe troop movements in Mexico. Aircraft hit by machine gun and rifle fire, first time U. S. military aircraft fired upon in hostility. None were wounded.

1928
• Bonds passed to build the Brownsville Municipal Airport, paving the way for air service south of the border.

1929
• March 9, 1:34p.m. Charles Lindbergh lands in Brownsville after five hour, 38 minute historic flight from Mexico City to the US establishing first leg of Airmail Service to Mexico. Event opens airport. Amelia Earhart attends. Crowd of 20,000 greets Lindbergh. Celebration described as international event of great significance.
• June 4: Pan American Airlines leases airport, begins service with Ford Tri-Motors.
• Name changed to Brownsville-Pan American Municipal Airport starting 30 year relationship with airline.
• D.C. Richardson and Edward Snyder, responsible for flight operations in Brownsville, started instrument flying between Brownsville and Mexico City. City became pioneer training center for teaching pilots to fly with navigation instruments only (called blind flying).

1930s
• 1931: Airport one of the four in the U. S. given highest rating by Department of Commerce.
• 1932: Brownsville was designated headquarters of Pan American’s Western Division. Buildings and equipment put in place to test and overhaul aircraft and engines. Planes used by Pan American in Alaska outfitted in Brownsville for cold weather flying.
• 1934: Braniff Airways began serving Brownsville.
• 1939: Eastern Airlines came to Brownsville, Captain Eddie Rickenbacker attended opening.
• Late 1930’s: Pan American Airways overhaul base established, weather station established, Braniff and Eastern Airlines began service.

1940s
• Pan American relinquished management of airport as national defense measure.
• US Government leased 884 acres for use by the Army-Air Force.
• First American jet engine flight tested in Brownsville.
• B-29 bomber renovated here.
• Airport had one of the largest overhaul facilities in the country. By the end of the war Pan American had overhauled nearly 6,000 engines.
• Civilian Pilot Training program initiated to train military and commercial pilots.
• Only Mexican military unit to engage in combat during World War II, the 201st Fighter Squadron, trained at the Brownsville Army Air Field.
• 1946 and 1947: Pan American had five daily southbound flights, Eastern and Braniff each had two northbound flights.
• Early 1946: Trans-Texas Airways, later Texas International, began Brownsville operations.

1950s
• Overhaul facility performs many interesting jobs: Renovated planes for new Liberian airline, overhauled Chiang Kai-Shek’s presidential plane.
• Fixed-base operations began.
• Charter flights business booms carrying fishermen to Mexican coast.
• United States Border Patrol began processing aliens at airport.
• Pan American Western Division moved to Miami.
• Inter Continental Engine Service began doing business at the Airport.

1960s
• Airport evolves into industrial area.
• Inter Continental Engine Service awarded contract to overhaul U.S. Navy aircraft.
• New weather radar system installed, 16th in nation.

1970s
• 1971: New passenger terminal built.
• Early 1970s: Private flight training begins for pilots from 30 different countries.
• 290 acres designated for Airport Industrial Park.
• Livestock export facility opens handling zoo animals, circus animals, cattle.
• 1979: 50th Anniversary Celebration.

1980s
• Cargo terminal area developed.
• Free Trade Zone developed.
• New control tower built.
• 1983: Airport renamed Brownsville / South Padre Island International Airport.

1990s
• Continental Airlines begins service.
• Doppler weather radar went into use.
• Weather Service built new building.
• Rio Grande Valley Wing of Confederate Air Force comes to Brownsville.

2000s
• Mayor Blanca S. Vela officially accepted the Terminal Capacity Enhancement Project in August, 2001.
• Mayor Eddie Treviño, Jr. and the Brownsville City Commission rededicated the airport on its 75th Anniversary in March, 2004.

Tomorrow
• Runway expands to 10,000 feet to accommodate larger aircraft with heavier loads.
• More airlines service airport.
• New terminal.