During the 1970s, as traffic at the airport grew, a further development plan was initiated. This involved the construction of a new control tower in 1973, a new passenger terminal in 1974, an independent power plant in 1975 and an expansion of the apron and widening of the taxiways completed in 1976. A few years after, the runway was lengthened so DC-9 series aircraft were able to use the airport. As a result, in November 1981, the airport had its first international flight to Paris–Charles de Gaulle Airport.