Viru Viru

Viru Viru International Airport
IATA: VVI ICAO: SLVR
Summary
Airport type	Public
Operator	Abertis
Location	Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Elevation AMSL	1,225 ft / 373 m
Coordinates	17°38′41″S 63°08′07″W / 17.64472°S 63.13528°W / -17.64472; -63.13528Coordinates: 17°38′41″S 63°08′07″W / 17.64472°S 63.13528°W / -17.64472; -63.13528
Map
VVI Location of airport in Bolivia
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 16/34 11,483 3,500 Concrete
Statistics (2015)
Passengers 2,384,746
Source: SABSA, Airport Statistics

Viru Viru International Airport (IATA: VVI, ICAO: SLVR) in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia is Bolivia's largest international airport. Viru Viru handles domestic, regional, and international flights from Bolivia, North America, South America and Europe and is the hub for Bolivia's biggest airline Boliviana de Aviación. The airport is able to handle aircraft up to the Boeing 747-400.

The airport was opened in 1983, to replace the obsolete El Trompillo Airport. 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. 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. 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.

Notes: