Built in in 1970, the airport, then called Sandstone Research Base served mainly as a stop-over point and hub for research in Antarctica. As tourism in the Antarctican Penguin State increased dramatically in the 1980's, a quicker way was needed to reach the country (back then, only ships and research aircraft were the only ways to get there), so the airport was renovated to accomodate commerical airliners. Terminal I1 (Intl. 1) was the first terminal built, in 1982, followed by Terminals I2 (Intl. 2) and D1 (Domestic 1). In late 1982, the airport was renamed to Adelie Point Capital. T-I1 was demolished in 1994, and was replaced with I3, which had a higher capacity. I2 was renovated in 2001, along with D1. Terminal I4D2, a combined international/domestic terminal, was built in 2008.