LAB (Lloyd Aereo Boliviano)

  September 1925 to April 2007

  Bolivia

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TYPE: Airline

IATA/ICAO CODES: LB / LLB

HEADQUARTERS: Cochabamba, Bolivia

FORMER NAME: Nil

SUBSEQUENT NAME: Nil

Lloyd Aereo Boliviano was founded by Guillermo Kyllmann in Cochabamba on 15 September 1925. The name was chosen after the British insurance market Lloyd's of London for its image of safety and security. Flight operations were launched on 23 September using Junkers F.13 aircraft, the first of which had been a present from the German community in Bolivia .

In July 1930, LLoyd Aéreo began to serve international routes, with scheduled flights between La Paz and Corumba, Brazil. On the grounds of a co-operation agreement with Syndicato Condor, an airline catering for the German minority in Brazil, LAB passengers could connect in Corumba on a flight to Rio de Janeiro, and vice versa. Over the following years, more destinations in Brazil were added, so that Lloyd Aereo became the second largest airline in South America at that time, only surpassed by Avianca from Colombia. In 1932, the Bolivian government seized all of LAB's plans and staff, so that they could be dispatched for military use during the Chaco War with Paraguay.

On 14 May 1941, Lloyd Aereo Boliviano was nationalized and became the flag carrier of Bolivia. This led to an expansion of the destinations served, as well as a fleet modernization. With the Lockheed L-188 Electra joining the fleet in September 1968, LAB was in the position to offer non-stop international flights. A further improvement in comfort and travel times was achieved when Lloyd Air acquired its first jet aircraft, a Boeing 727, in 1970, allowing direct flights to Central America and the United States.

From 1994 onwards, Lloyd Aereo Boliviano started encountering financial difficulties. As a consequence, the Bolivian government prepared the privatization of the airline and began to negotiate with potential buyers. On 19 October 1995, Brazilian airline VASP acquired a 50% stake in LAB. In an effort to cut costs, VASP aimed at a full merger between the two airlines, with a similar livery and a joint frequent flyer program as initial steps. However, in 2001 VASP sold its shares back to Bolivian investors due to ongoing monetary constraints.

From 2006, Lloyd Aereo had to cut flights because of its financial problems. On 30 March 2007, it was decided by the Bolivian government to shut down Lloyd Aéreo Boliviano, and all flight operations were suspended on 1 April.

1947* to 1951

• Curtiss C-46-CU Commando: CB-51
• Curtiss C-46A-1-CU Commando: CB-50 / CP-550
• Curtiss C-46A-10-CU Commando: CB-39 / CP-539
• Curtiss C-46A-60-CK Commando: CB-37