International services were started in 1973, with scheduled service to Khabarovsk and Niigata Airport became historically an important gateway for traffic to and from Russia, which among other purposes were used to export Niigata-area agricultural products to Russia; however, flights were reduced from winter 2010 as more slots became available for Russia service at Narita International Airport near Tokyo.
Os servizos comerciais comezaron en 1973 con voos regulares a Khabarovsk, convertendo ao aeroport de Niigata nunha importante porta de entrada dende Rusia, que entre outros propósitos foi usada para exportar produtos agrícolas da zona de Niigata; porén os servizos foron reducíndose dende o inverno de 2010 e a día de hoxe hai máis voos a Rusia dende o aeroporto internacional de Narita preto de Toquio.