CAUC dates back to September 25, 1951, when it was founded as No.2 Civil Aviation School in Tianjin, administered directly by the Civil Aviation Administration, Central Military Commission of China. The school devoted itself to fostering aviation professionals. With its first principal appointed by late Chairman Mao Zedong and the location decided on by late Premier Zhou En-lai, the school laid a solid foundation for CAUC; hence the prelude of civil aviation education.

On May 30, 2006, the university adopted its present name with the approval of Ministry of Education, marking a milestone and opening a new chapter for CAUC.