This Underdog South American Airline Is Quietly Taking Over Washington, DC—Here’s Why It Matters More Than You Think
Ever wondered how a little-known airline from the heart of South America can suddenly make Washington, D.C. feel a bit more like Santa Cruz? Well, beginning this November, Boliviana de Aviacion, Bolivia’s own flag carrier, is bridging continents with twice-weekly flights connecting these two unique cities. It’s not every day that a Boeing 737-800 charts a course through Panama City en route to Dulles International Airport — a route that’s as practical as it is symbolic, considering Washington hosts the largest Bolivian community in the U.S. This fresh link isn’t just another dot on the map; it’s a subtle reshaping of travel narratives that invites us to rethink the usual South American gateways. Curious about what this means for your next trip south or just intrigued by how airlines adapt their routes in surprising ways? Strap in and let’s unpack the journey. LEARN MORE.
Aug. 09, 2025
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2 min read
Little-known South American airline adds new route to Washington, DC, its 2nd US city
Washington, D.C.-area travelers will have a new option to South America beginning in November.
Boliviana de Aviacion, the state-owned flag carrier of Bolivia, will launch twice-weekly flights from its home-country base at Viru Viru International Airport (VVI) in Santa Cruz to Washington’s Dulles International Airport (IAD) with a stop at Panama City’s Tocumen International Airport (PTY) on Nov. 4. The flights will operate on Tuesdays and Thursdays through Feb. 24, and resume from June 1 until Aug. 31, 2026.
Boliviana will fly a Boeing 737-800 on the route.
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Washington is home to the largest Bolivian population in the U.S., said Brian D’Amico, a director of airline business development at the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which operates both Dulles and Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA).
The city is Boliviana’s second U.S. destination after Miami International Airport (MIA), which it serves both nonstop from VVI and via PTY.
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Travelers are only able to book flights for the entire route — Washington to Santa Cruz and back — and not between Washington and Panama City. The 4,002-mile distance between VVI and IAD would exceed the typical range of the 737-800, though it can easily cover both the IAD-PTY and VVI-PTY legs.
The airline has limited partnerships with both Avianca and Iberia. However, neither lists a tie-up with Boliviana’s loyalty program, Elevate.
Boliviana operates 24 aircraft, according to flight-tracking website FlightRadar24. The fleet includes three Airbus A330s that the airline uses for flights to Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN), Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) and MIA.
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Featured image by Marcos-del-Mazo via Getty
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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