Taipei Songshan Airport traces its origins to 1936, when the site was established as Taihoku Airfield under Japanese colonial rule, making it Taiwan's first airport. After World War II, the Republic of China Air Force took control of the facility, and on April 16, 1950, it was formally reestablished as Taipei International Airport for combined civilian and military use. For nearly three decades it was Taiwan's sole international gateway, at its peak handling flights from 14 foreign airlines.

That era ended in 1979 with the opening of the larger Chiang Kai-shek International Airport, later renamed Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, roughly 40 kilometers southwest of the city. Most international carriers relocated, and TSA shifted its focus to domestic routes. Passenger volumes fell sharply, and the airport spent years in a reduced role. Things changed again in 2008, when cross-strait weekend charter flights were permitted and the airport began accommodating flights to mainland China for the first time in decades. Direct service to Shanghai Hongqiao began in 2010, followed that same year by the opening of the Taipei Songshan to Tokyo Haneda route.

The airport shares a single runway, designated 10/28, with the Republic of China Air Force, which still operates from the same site. Domestic routes to Kinmen, Penghu, Matsu, and Taitung are served by Mandarin Airlines and Uni Air, both of which use TSA as a hub. International routes are confined to Japan, South Korea, and mainland China, operated by carriers including China Airlines, EVA Air, All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines, and China Eastern. The Taipei Metro's Wenhu line has provided a direct underground connection to the terminal since 2009, making the airport one of the most accessible in the region. Its location inside the city limits rules out any meaningful expansion, fixing its role as a compact, high-frequency hub for regional and domestic travel.