Viru Viru International Airport Aeropuerto Internacional Viru Viru | |||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||
| Operator | NAABOL | ||||||||||
| Location | Santa Cruz de la Sierra | ||||||||||
| Opened | 1983; 42 years ago (1983) | ||||||||||
| Hub for | |||||||||||
| Focus city for | Boliviana de Aviación | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 1,225 ft / 373 m | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 17°38′41″S63°08′07″W / 17.64472°S 63.13528°W /-17.64472; -63.13528 | ||||||||||
| Website | www | ||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||
  VVI Location of airport in Bolivia | |||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
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| Statistics (2023) | |||||||||||
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| Source: SABSA,[1] Airport Statistics[2] | |||||||||||
Viru Viru International Airport (IATA:VVI,ICAO:SLVR) is aninternational airport servingSanta Cruz de la Sierra, located 17 km (11 mi) north of the city. It isBolivia's primary air terminal, handling much of the international traffic into the country. In 2023, the airport handled 4.12 million passengers, making it the busiest airport in Bolivia.[3] It serves as a majorhub forBoliviana de Aviación and offers routes to destinations across South America, North America, and Europe.
The idea of having an airport in the city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra was conceived in 1965 by GeneralRené Barrientos,[4][5]former president of Bolivia, with the intention of creating an intercontinental airport. Shortly thereafter, construction of the airport began until it was completed and inaugurated in 1983, to replace the obsoleteEl Trompillo Airport.[citation needed] Upon its inauguration, Viru Viru became a main gateway for international flights.Lloyd Aéreo Boliviano used Viru Viru as a hub before ceasing operations in 2008.[citation needed]
On 1 March 1997, the government of Bolivia entered into a 25-year contract with Airport Group International to operate the three largest airports in Bolivia —El Alto International Airport in La Paz,Jorge Wilstermann International Airport inCochabamba and Viru Viru International Airport.[citation needed] Servicios de Aeropuertos Bolivianos Sociedad Anonima (SABSA) was created to operate the concession. In 1999, Airport Group International was purchased byTBI plc.
In 2004, Spain'sAbertis/AENA purchased TBI. The airport was nationalized by the Bolivian government in 2013.[6]
SABSA has been substituted in March of 2022 by the newly established government agencyNavegación Aérea y Aeropuertos Bolivianos (NAABOL). This state-owned agency now manages the airports in Bolivia.[7]
The name "Viru Viru" originates from the indigenousGuarani language spoken in the area. Most likely, "Viru Viru" refers to atoponym or a distinctive geographical feature after which the airport was named. There is some ambiguity about the meaning of it based on sources in the internet. Different meanings have been proposed:
Today, some researchers claim that the correct spelling of the term would be "Birubiru".[10]
The following airlines operate regular scheduled and charter flights at Viru Viru International Airport:
| Airlines | Destinations |
|---|---|
| AerCaribe | Lima |
| TAB - Transportes Aéreos Bolivianos | Cochabamba,La Paz,Miami |
| Rank | City | Passengers | Top carriers | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Miami, United States | 386,496 | American Airlines, Boliviana de Aviación |  4% |
| 2 |  São Paulo (Guarulhos), Brazil | 372,773 | Boliviana de Aviación, Gol Airlines |  10% |
| 3 |  Buenos Aires (Ezeiza), Argentina | 358,943 | Aerolíneas Argentinas, Boliviana de Aviación | 43% |
| 4 |  Madrid, Spain | 348,603 | Air Europa, Boliviana de Aviación | 5% |
| 5 |  Panama City, Panama | 278,277 | Copa Airlines | 15% |
| 6 |  Lima, Peru | 268,584 | Avianca Ecuador, LATAM Perú | 26% |
| 7 |  Iquique, Chile | 94,733 | Amaszonas, LATAM Chile | 7% |
| 8 |  Asunción, Paraguay | 79,962 | Amaszonas, LATAM Paraguay | 13% |
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Media related toViru Viru International Airport at Wikimedia Commons
