AeroSur
AeroSur '' was the second largest privately owned airline in Bolivia, headquartered in Santa Cruz de la Sierra. It operated a domestic and international flight network from its main hub at Viru Viru International Airport to major cities in Bolivia and destinations in South America, the United States and Spain. Founded in April 1992 taking advantage of the deregulation of Bolivia's air transport, it started flying on 24 August that year between Santa Cruz and Potosí.
For most of its operational history, AeroSur's main fleet was the Boeing 727-200. The airline even operated the type for its services to Miami, requiring a refueling stop due to its range. They were gradually replaced with more modern Boeing 737 aircraft. Additionally, the airline operated single Boeing 747 and 767 aircraft for its long-haul destinations to North America and Europe.
In 2008, AeroSur became Bolivia's flag carrier following the demise of the country's main airline, Lloyd Aéreo Boliviano, which ceased operations in 2010. In 2012, the airline declared bankruptcy and ceased operations shortly afterward; it had 1,200 employees at the time.
History
Establishment and early operations
AeroSur was established in April 1992, following the deregulation of the Bolivian airline market, which had been previously controlled by the then state-owned airline Lloyd Aéreo Boliviano, Bolivia's flag carrier, which had been in service since 1925, making it South America's second oldest airline.On August 24, 1992, AeroSur commenced its operations with an inaugural flight between Santa Cruz de la Sierra and Potosí using a Let L-410 Turbojet short-range aircraft. During the first year of its operations, the airline had carried around 400,000 passengers. Regular revenue flights on regional routes soon followed as the airline then acquired several Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner and British Aerospace 146 aircraft. Over the following years, AeroSur acquired larger Boeing 727-200 airliners, which allowed the airline to expand its network of operations by adding international flights and helped the airline increase the number of passengers transported.
Expansion
During the 2000s AeroSur renewed and expanded its fleet, introducing larger aircraft of the types Boeing 747 and Boeing 757, which made the inauguration of long-haul flights possible. In 2002, President Hugo Banzer declared the airline the flag carrier of the Republic of Bolivia ; in that same year AeroSur became the first airline in Bolivia to offer business and first class flights. In 2004, AeroSur started to operate nostalgic flights with a Douglas C-117 to tourist destinations such as the Salar de Uyuni and Rurrenabaque, both of which are internationally recognized.When Lloyd Aéreo Boliviano went bankrupt in 2007, AeroSur became the largest airline of Bolivia and the only one with intercontinental flights. In 2009, the domestic fleet of aging Boeing 727s was replaced by second-hand, though more modern, Boeing 737 Classic airliners, and looked to start a Peruvian subsidiary, however that project was suspended indefinitely.
The subsidiary dubbed AeroSur Paraguay was planned to operate two Boeing 737-200 aircraft of mainline AeroSur. The further development of the project was postponed in mid-2009 pending Paraguayan governmental approval, and later deferred indefinitely. In 2010, AeroSur added five new aircraft to its fleet: three Boeing 737-300s, one Boeing 737-400 and a Boeing 767-200ER.
Bankruptcy
On March 31, 2012, the airline suspended operations because of unpaid taxes, but resumed all flights on April 6, except for its Madrid route. AeroSur had used a 747 leased from Virgin Atlantic on that route but had returned it to the lessor. The airline planned to resume that route with an ex-Aerolíneas Argentinas 747-400. Ultimately, AeroSur struggled to keep its operations running smoothly and returned its 767 aircraft to the lessor.On May 17, 2012 AeroSur suspended all its flights again, and other airlines such as state-owned Boliviana de Aviación began to fill the void left by AeroSur. The airline was in talks with potential US investor William Petty who signed a memorandum of understanding to invest up to US$15 million in the Bolivian carrier. AeroSur's air operator's certificate was revoked on July 20, 2012. A group of former employees, as well as William Petty, planned to create a new airline called TU Aerolínea, but as of 2018 nothing had resulted from that venture.
Subsidiaries
AeroSur Paraguay
AeroSur Paraguay was a brand of its parent company, which was trying to become a future airline based at the Silvio Pettirossi International Airport in Asunción, Paraguay, and was to be a subsidiary of the Bolivian airline. Unfortunately, the brand could never be consolidated as one legitimate and legally operational airline; it only became the name for one of the Bolivian airline's aircraft that has already been withdrawn from its fleet due to the financial problems that afflicted one of the most important private airlines in Bolivia in recent years.AeroSur Cargo
AeroSur had freight transport service nationwide and international with direct shipments. AeroSur did not operate any dedicated cargo aircraft, but used the cargo holds of its passenger aircraft for network-wide freight transport.Destinations
Prior to its shutdown, AeroSur operated a comprehensive network of domestic flights to major cities in Bolivia as well as international destinations in South America and long-haul flights to Miami and Madrid. The airline operated a main hub at Viru Viru International Airport in Santa Cruz de la Sierra.Fleet
Last fleet
As of November 2011, the AeroSur fleet consisted of the following aircraft:Fleet development
Over the years, AeroSur operated the following aircraft types:| Aircraft | Total | Introduced | Retired | Notes |
| Aero Commander 500 | 1 | 1998 | ||
| Airbus A330-200 | 1 | 2006 | 2008 | Operated by Air Comet |
| British Aerospace 146-100 | 2 | 1992 | 1996 | |
| British Aerospace 146-200 | 2 | 1993 | 1995 | |
| Beechcraft Baron | 1 | 1992 | 1993 | |
| Boeing 727-100 | 7 | 1995 | 2005 | |
| Boeing 727-200 | 13 | 2001 | 2012 | |
| Boeing 737-200 | 5 | 2003 | 2012 | |
| Boeing 737-300 | 5 | 2009 | 2012 | |
| Boeing 737-400 | 1 | 2010 | 2012 | |
| Boeing 747-100SR | 1 | 2006 | 2007 | Leased from Logistic Air |
| Boeing 747-300 | 1 | 2008 | 2010 | Leased from Air Atlanta Icelandic |
| Boeing 747-400 | 1 | 2009 | 2012 | Leased from Virgin Atlantic |
| Boeing 757-200 | 4 | 2006 | 2010 | Leased from Ryan International Airlines |
| Boeing 767-200ER | 2 | 2008 | 2012 | |
| Dornier 228 | 1 | 2003 | 2004 | Leased from Aerocon |
| Douglas C-117 | 1 | 2004 | 2008 | Leased from Líneas Aéreas Canedo |
| Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner | 9 | 1992 | 1998 | |
| Let L-410 | 4 | 1992 | 1997 | |
| Piper PA-31 Navajo | 1 | 1993 | ||
| Piper PA-34 Seneca | 1 | 1993 | ||
| Yakovlev Yak-40 | 3 | 1995 | 2003 |
The 747 aircraft were often given a bull-themed livery, for which those aircraft were sometimes dubbed "Torisimo" or "Super Torisimo."
Accidents and incidents
- On 31 December 1997, an AeroSur Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner was substantially damaged when it veered off the runway at Teniente Jorge Henrich Arauz Airport. The two pilots had lost control of the aircraft during takeoff run. There were no notable injuries among the 18 passengers on board.
Awards and recognitions
- 2008: Named Most Powerful Brand among Bolivian airlines by PricewaterhouseCoopers.
- 2009: Awarded one Bizz Award as Inspiring Company.
Contributions
A preserved Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation nicknamed Avion Pirata was painted with the AeroSur livery, although it never entered in service with the airline.
Many street signs in Cochabamba, such as the signs for C. Mexico street, were financed by AeroSur and to this day still bear the airline's name.