After several previous projects in the 1920s by the federal government and the city of Lucerne, the Municipal Assembly of Emmen decided in 1938 to make a contribution of CHF 200,000 for the construction of the airfield. After the construction of the airfield, the first landing took place on 7 July 1939. In 1940, a hard surface and a 600 m long cross runway was created. This was extended in 1942 to a concrete runway at 700 m, in 1946 to , and in 1957 to .
