AeroSur (legally incorporated as Compañía Boliviana de Transporte Aéreo Privado Aerosur, S.A.) 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
left|thumb|A [[Boeing 727-100 from AeroSur featuring the airline's first livery]]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 (LAB), 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. Ultimately, AeroSur struggled to keep its operations running smoothly and returned its 767 aircraft to the lessor. 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legally operational airline; it only became the name for one of the Bolivian airline's aircraft that has already been withdrawn from its fleet due to the financial problems that afflicted one of the most important private airlines in Bolivia in recent years.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
thumb|An AeroSur [[Boeing 747-400 leased from Virgin Atlantic at Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport in 2011]]
thumb|An AeroSur [[Boeing 767-200ER at Miami International Airport in 2011]]
thumb|An AeroSur [[Boeing 727-200 taxiing at São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport in 2012]]
As of November 2011, the AeroSur fleet consisted of the following aircraft:
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ AeroSur fleet
|-
!rowspan=2|Aircraft
!rowspan=2|In<br />service
!colspan=4|Passengers
!rowspan=2|Routes
!rowspan=2|Notes
|-
!<abbr title=First>F</abbr>
!<abbr title=Business>B</abbr>
!<abbr title=Economy>E</abbr>
!Total
|-
|Boeing 727-200
|1
|0
|12
|138
|150
|Domestic
|
|-
|Boeing 737-300
|4
|0
|12
|114
|126
|Domestic, American
|
|-
|Boeing 747-400
|1
|14
|58
|379
|451
|Madrid
|leased from Virgin Atlantic
|-
!Total
!6
!colspan=6|
|}
Fleet development
Over the years, AeroSur operated the following aircraft types:
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
!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 (registered CP-2321) 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
thumb|The remaining AeroSur planes today
AeroSur greatly supported sports, especially football, where it created the Copa Aerosur and la Copa AeroSur del Sur, and in mid-2009 the AeroSur Futsal Cup was organized for the first time, featuring CRE and AeroSur from Bolivia, River Plate of Argentina and President Hayes of Paraguay. Aerosur, the host team, won.
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.