Airports in Bolivia

There are numerous airstrips and airports in Bolivia: one of the highest per capita in the world. Santa Cruz has two airports: Viru Viru International (or VVI) and El Trompillo (SRZ), used by the military and small national airlines. In Cochabamba you'll land at the Jorge Wilstermann International Airport (CBB). The John F. Kennedy International airport of La Paz (LPB) is the world's highest airport. Tarija also has only one airport, the Oriel Lea Plaza national airport (TJA). The Teniente Jorge Henrich Arauz (TDD) is the only airport in Trinidad, the capital of Beni. Potosí also has a small airport called simply the Potosi Airport (POI). Sucre's is called the Sucre airport (SRE) and Cobija's is called the E. Beltram airport (CIJ).

These are the principal airports - however, there are also many other smaller airports in Guayaramerían, Puerto Suárez, Riberalta, Rurrenabaque, and others.

In addition, there are several hundred airstrips throughout the country as well. The World Factbook claims that Bolivia has 1,382 landing strips, of which 1,016 have paved runways of under 915 meters. Many of these are rarely used.

La Paz, Santa Cruz and Cochabamba are the country's 3 main international entry points and have runways over 3,050 meters long. Bolivia is 7th on the list of countries with the most airstrips in the world because getting around by car, bus or train though affordable, can be quite difficult.

Several companies offer transportation by helicopter at the country's many airports. Because transport by helicopter is expensive, these companies are generally used by passengers that must reach remote regions of the country where airstrips don’t exist. Oil and gas company personnel frequently use helicopters to reach these areas, as do military personnel. Tourists and photographers can also contract their services.

AASANA, the “Administración de Aeropuertos y Servicios Auxiliares de la Navegación Aérea” is the government’s official airport and airstrip administrator throughout the country, although the 3 international airports are run and managed by a private company called SABSA.

All the capitals of the different regions, large cities, and some towns in Bolivia, have airports that provide service for domestic flights. Flights on private airplanes can be found in most larger cities. Regularly scheduled air service is available between the major airports: La Paz, Cochabamba, and Santa Cruz which are linked to Potosí, Riberalta, Puerto Suárez, Sucre, Tarija, Trinidad, Cobija, Rurrenabaque, Guayaramerin and Yacuiba.

In June 2011 the Bolivian government announced a plan to invest $144 million dollars through 2015 to build additional airports in the city of Oruro, Uyuni (state of Potosí) and Alcantarí (state of Chuquisaca) and make improvements to several others.