Airbus Updates No.4060

 

Bolivia's BoA launches A330-200 operations

BoA A330-200© AAM - Aircraft Asset Management

05.07.2023 - 15:07 UTC

BoA - Boliviana de Aviación (OB, La Paz El Alto) has started in-house A330-200 flight operations, thus kick starting its widebody fleet rollover.

CP-3208 (msn 1452) operated a one-off rotation from Cochabamba via Santa Cruz Viru Viru to Miami International on June 17-18, followed by a first flight to Buenos Aires Ministro Pistarini on June 20, 2023. Flightradar24 ADS-B data shows that it has been in daily scheduled service since June 25, flying mainly to Buenos Aires and on the domestic leg between Cochabamba and Santa Cruz Viru Viru.

The 9.9-year-old ex-Virgin Australia jet is owned by Park Aerospace Holdings (managed by Avolon) and is the first of two A330s delivered to BoA in April and May 2023. CP-3209 (msn 1561), which is on lease from Commonwealth Bank of Australia, remains parked at Santa Cruz Viru Viru. The airline was planning to add three A330-200s but the third's induction date is uncertain given a forex crunch in Bolivia.

The A330s are slated to replace four B767-300ERs of which BoA continues to operate just two, with the other pair in storage, the ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows. The airline is also wet-leasing one B767-200(ER) from Omni Air International (OY, Tulsa International).

Airbus Updates No.3992

 

Boliviana de Aviación takes first A330-200

BoA A330-200© AAM - Aircraft Asset Management

28.04.2023 - 15:30 UTC

BoA - Boliviana de Aviación (OB, La Paz El Alto) has taken delivery of its first A330-200 even as an acute currency crunch in the country had threatened to jeopardise the much-needed widebody fleet renewal.

CP-3209 (msn 1561) was ferried from Châteauroux to Santa Cruz Viru Viru on April 25-26, 2023. The 8.7-year-old aircraft is owned by Commonwealth Bank of Australia and was formerly operated by Virgin Australia International/Virgin Australia. It is the youngest aircraft in BoA's fleet and the only one less than 13 years of age.

The airline did not reveal a timeline for the induction of the A330 into service. The aircraft seats up to 275 passengers, including 20 in business class.

The delivery took place amidst a shortage of hard currency in the country which forced the government to curb the outflow of US Dollars from Bolivia and thus made it difficult for the airline to pay the lessor. The delayed delivery prompted a Member of Parliament, Marcelo Pedrazas, from the main opposition party Comunidad Ciudadana to request a written explanation to the Minister of Public Works, Edgar Montaño.

BoA's current widebody fleet comprises four B767-300ERs, of which only two are currently active. The four Boeing widebodies are 28.3 years old on average. The airline also wet-leases an A330-200 from Wamos Air (EB, Madrid Barajas) to operate its route to Madrid Barajas, on which the in-house A330 is poised to debut.

Last year, BoA chose to dry-lease three A330-200s to replace the B767-300(ER)s. However, the delivery for the remaining two remains unclear, as Montaño only spoke about one unit during the recent press conference. BoA did not respond to ch-aviation's request for comment.