While there has been talk of this for over five years now, it looks like it’s finally happening…
In this post:
Boliviana de Aviacion updating long haul fleet
Boliviana de Aviacion (BoA) is an airline that has long been on my radar, which I’ve been wanting to fly. My home airport of Miami is the carrier’s one destination in the United States. Just about every time I fly out of the airport, I see one of the carrier’s Boeing 767s parked there.
The carrier’s long haul fleet currently consists of three Boeing 767-300s, which are an average of over 28 years old. It’s not just the age of the aircraft, but the interiors are extremely uncompetitive, based on everything I’ve heard (though there’s not much out there about them). The airline primarily flies these planes from Santa Cruz de la Sierra (VVI) to Miami (MIA) and Madrid (MAD).
The government owned carrier has been working on plans to refresh its long haul fleet. The plan has long been to retire Boeing 767s and replace them with more modern (yet still used) Airbus A330s. That’s finally happening, as the first jet has touched down in Bolivia, and these planes should enter service by October 2023.
Basics of Boliviana de Aviacion’s A330s
Boliviana de Aviacion is acquiring former Virgin Australia Airbus A330-200s. Virgin Australia discontinued long haul flights in 2020, around the start of the pandemic, and dumped its A330s and 777s. The planes have been stored for the last few years.
The first A330 to join BoA’s fleet has the registration code CP-3209, and it landed in Bolivia on April 25, 2023. For what it’s worth, this is a roughly eight year old plane, and it features 275 seats, including 20 business class seats and 255 economy class seats.
It’s expected that the next A330 to join Boliviana de Aviacion’s fleet will have the registration code CP-3208, but that jet hasn’t yet flown to Bolivia. That plane is around 10 years old.
These planes have reverse herringbone seats in business class, which are fully flat and feature direct aisle access. This will be an absolutely massive improvement compared to the carrier’s current business class, which just consists of recliner seats that don’t even have personal televisions.
To coincide with the A330s, BoA is also undergoing a rebranding, and is introducing a new livery. How pretty is this livery?!
I can’t wait to fly the A330 once it enters service, as I’ve been wanting to fly the airline and visit Bolivia. While BoA doesn’t belong to any alliances, the airline does have very reasonable paid fares. For example, a business class seat from Miami to Bolivia generally costs under $800 one-way.
Bottom line
While there has been talk of this for years, Boliviana de Aviacion is finally acquiring Airbus A330s, to replace the carrier’s Boeing 767s. The airline is leasing former Virgin Australia A330s, which should represent a massive product improvement for long haul routes to Miami and Madrid.
The first plane has now arrived in Bolivia, and should enter service with the airline in the coming months.
What do you make of Boliviana de Aviacion’s fleet renewal plans?
Lars, did you mean fly "their" 767. You can get "there" in their new A332s lol
As someone who designs liveries as a hobby, that new livery is commendable. Definitely an improvement over the previous scheme which looked too much like ANA. I love the detail on the tattoo design and how it’s colored to transition well between the white fuselage and dark blue tail.
Two BoA articles in one day. Wow! Big Friday
Ben you should fly there 767 while you have the chance. Your readership might like your review of a throwback style cabin.
Pair BOA in a trip report with Aerolineas Argentinas?
Any rumors of expansion? Would love to fly if they expanded to NYC.
It is a stellar hard product - I flew it about a year before VA got rid of all them from Perth to Sydney and was really good.