Between 2015 and 2017, BoA continued expanding and reinforcing its regional international network. Routes to major South American cities such as Buenos Aires, São Paulo, Santiago de Chile and Montevideo were added, maintained and, in some cases, increased in frequency. New or reinstated services were launched to destinations including Cancún and Miami, aimed at serving both tourism demand. These expansions were closely tied to government policy, which viewed BoA as a strategic tool for economic integration and national visibility rather than a purely commercial enterprise. During this period, BoA also explored new regional markets in Peru and northern Chile, strengthening connectivity from Santa Cruz de la Sierra, which increasingly became the airline’s operational and commercial hub due to its lower altitude and more favorable operating conditions compared to La Paz.

Fleet development saw BoA taking delivery of additional Boeing 737-700 aircraft, some of them leased, to partially modernize the narrowbody fleet. However, the long-term fleet renewal strategy remained unclear, and plans to introduce newer aircraft types such as the Boeing 737 MAX or Airbus A320 family aircraft were discussed but repeatedly delayed. On the long-haul side, the Boeing 767-300ER remained the backbone of BoA’s intercontinental operations, particularly on the La Paz and Santa Cruz to Madrid route, which was one of the airline’s most prestigious and politically significant services.

From 2018 to 2019, BoA faced growing scrutiny over safety, punctuality, and financial sustainability. Several operational incidents, including aborted takeoffs, runway excursions, and technical delays, attracted attention from both domestic regulators and international aviation authorities. During this time, BoA also experienced increasing competition from foreign airlines on international routes, particularly from carriers based in Peru, Colombia, and Chile, which offered newer aircraft and more extensive networks.

The political crisis in Bolivia in late 2019, which led to the resignation of President Evo Morales, had a direct impact on BoA. Management changes followed, and several international routes were temporarily reduced or suspended as the airline reassessed its strategy amid political uncertainty and declining passenger demand. These disruptions were soon compounded by the global COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, which marked one of the most challenging periods in BoA’s history. Like most airlines worldwide, BoA drastically reduced its operations, suspending the majority of its international flights and limiting domestic services to essential routes. Aircraft were grounded for extended periods, revenues collapsed, and the airline relied heavily on state support to maintain basic operations and preserve employment.

During the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021, BoA played a key logistical role for the Bolivian government, operating repatriation flights and transporting medical supplies, including vaccines and protective equipment. These missions reinforced the airline’s role as a national instrument rather than a profit-driven company. At the same time, the crisis highlighted longstanding structural weaknesses, such as an aging fleet, limited financial reserves, and dependence on government subsidies. Several aircraft were retired or stored during this period, further shrinking the active fleet.

As air travel gradually recovered from 2021 onward, BoA began rebuilding its network, initially focusing on domestic routes to restore national connectivity. Flights between La Paz, Santa Cruz, Cochabamba, Tarija, Sucre, Trinidad, Cobija and other regional cities were progressively reinstated, often with adjusted frequencies to match demand. International services followed more slowly, with priority given to high-demand and politically important routes such as Buenos Aires, São Paulo, Lima and Madrid. The Miami route was also reinstated, reflecting its importance for the Bolivian trade links with the United States. On October 26th 2023, the airline started scheduled services to Havana in Cuba using a Boeing 737-800. However, the airline suspended its services to Havana in July 2024, just 9 months since its inaugural flight, due to low demand and high operating costs. On November 3rd 2023, it launched its new destination to Caracas, Venezuela.

BoA incorporated additional Boeing 737-800 aircraft, primarily through leasing arrangements, marking a significant step toward modernizing its short- and medium-haul operations. These aircraft allowed the airline to increase capacity on high-demand domestic and regional routes while reducing operating costs compared to the older 737-300s. In April 2023, Boliviana de Aviación took delivery of its first Airbus A330-200 for its long-haul services from Santa Cruz de la Sierra, to Miami and Madrid. The airline currently has three aircraft of the type in its fleet, replacing the aging Boeing 767-300ER. The newer aircraft feature lie-flat seats in business class and improved services in economy class featuring In-flight entertainment screens in every seat.

Today, Boliviana de Aviación remains a central pillar of Bolivia’s air transport system. Its recent history reflects the tensions inherent in operating a state-owned airline in a developing aviation market: balancing commercial viability with social obligations, modernizing a fleet under financial constraints, and maintaining international connectivity amid political and economic volatility. While BoA has not transformed into a major regional hub carrier, it has preserved its role as a symbol of national sovereignty and territorial integration, continuing to connect Bolivia internally and to key destinations abroad despite persistent challenges and an evolving global aviation landscape.