Viru Viru International Airport
Viru Viru International Airport | |||||||||||
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| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||
| Operator | Abertis | ||||||||||
| Location | Santa Cruz de la Sierra | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 1,225 ft / 373 m | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 17°38′41″S 63°08′07″W / 17.64472°S 63.13528°W | ||||||||||
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Viru Viru International Airport (IATA: VVI, ICAO: SLVR) in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia is Bolivia's largest international airport. Viru Viru handles domestic, regional, and international flights from Bolivia, North America, South America and Europe and is the hub for Bolivia's biggest airline Boliviana de Aviación. The airport is able to handle aircraft up to the Boeing 747-400.
History
The airport was opened in 1983, to replace the obsolete El Trompillo Airport. 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. 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 in Cochabamba and Viru Viru International Airport. Servicios de Aeropuertos Bolivianos Sociedad Anonima (SABSA) was created to operate the concession. In 1999 Airport Group International was purchased by TBI plc. In 2004, Spain's Abertis/AENA purchased TBI.
Airlines and destinations
Passenger
Cargo
| Airlines | Destinations |
|---|---|
| American Airlines Cargo | Miami |
| TAB - Transportes Aéreos Bolivianos | Cochabamba, La Paz, Miami, Panama City |
Accidents and incidents
- On 8 March 2006, an Argentine air force Learjet 35 flying from El Alto International Airport in La Paz to Viru Viru crashed after take off, killing all six people on board.
- 23 July 2010: an AeroSur Boeing 737 flying from Miami, Florida, USA, to Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, with 122 passengers and 6 crew members on board, lost cabin pressurization at 08:00 UTC over the Brazilian Amazonia and was forced to land at Rio Branco International Airport.[3]
References
- ^ http://www.sabsa.aero/aeropuerto-el-alto
- ^ http://www.sabsa.aero/Documentos/informacion/Estadistico_pax_atz.pdf
- ^ Aerosur plane with 128 on board performed emergency landing in Brazil. ABC Color, quoting EFE news agency, 23 July 2010. In Spanish. Retrieved on 11 August 2010.