Viru Viru International Airport

Viru Viru International Airport Template:Airport codes is an international airport serving Santa Cruz de la Sierra, located Template:Cvt north of the city. It is Bolivia'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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It serves as a major hub for Boliviana de Aviación and offers routes to destinations across South America, North America, and Europe.

History

The idea of having an airport in the city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra was conceived in 1965 by General René Barrientos,<ref name=arce>Template:Citation</ref><ref name=datosbo>Template:Cite news</ref> 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 obsolete El Trompillo Airport.Template: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.Template: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 in Cochabamba and Viru Viru International Airport.Template:Citation needed 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. The airport was nationalized by the Bolivian government in 2013.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

SABSA has been substituted in March of 2022 by the newly established government agency Navegación Aérea y Aeropuertos Bolivianos (NAABOL). This state-owned agency now manages the airports in Bolivia. <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Name

Main hall

The name "Viru Viru" originates from the indigenous Guarani language spoken in the area. Most likely, "Viru Viru" refers to a toponym 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:

• Some say it means "round object" or "round place", referring to a nearby hill that has a circular shape, resembling a round object.
• Others say it refers to a river that has now disappeared and was located 13 kilometres from the city. The tributary was in the same pampa where the airport was built.<ref>ultracasas.com - 5 datos que NO CONOCÍAS acerca del Aeropuerto de VIRU VIRU</ref>
• Lastly, it could mean "pampa, plain", which was the name of the whole geographical area of the place where the airport was built.<ref>https://www.flickriver.com/photos/dan59/4540707944/ flickriver.com - Aeropuerto Internacional Viru Viru</ref>

Today, some researchers claim that the correct spelling of the term would be "Birubiru".<ref>ultracasas.com - 5 datos que NO CONOCÍAS acerca del Aeropuerto de VIRU VIRU</ref>

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

The following airlines operate regular scheduled and charter flights at Viru Viru International Airport: Template:Airport-dest-list

Statistics

Busiest international routes from VVI
(2015–2016)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Needs update

Rank	City	Passengers	Top carriers	% Change
1	Template:Flagicon Miami, United States	386,496	American Airlines, Boliviana de Aviación	Template:Decrease 4%
2	Template:Flagicon São Paulo (Guarulhos), Brazil	372,773	Boliviana de Aviación, Gol Airlines	Template:Increase 10%
3	Template:Flagicon Buenos Aires (Ezeiza), Argentina	358,943	Aerolíneas Argentinas, Boliviana de Aviación	Template:Increase 43%
4	Template:Flagicon Madrid, Spain	348,603	Air Europa, Boliviana de Aviación	Template:Increase 5%
5	Template:Flagicon Panama City, Panama	278,277	Copa Airlines	Template:Increase 15%
6	Template:Flagicon Lima, Peru	268,584	Avianca Ecuador, LATAM Perú	Template:Increase 26%
7	Template:Flagicon Iquique, Chile	94,733	Amaszonas, LATAM Chile	Template:Decrease 7%
8	Template:Flagicon Asunción, Paraguay	79,962	Amaszonas, LATAM Paraguay	Template:Decrease 13%