Boliviana de Aviación to Launch 11-Hour All-Economy 737 Flight to Washington
ID 61709426 | Boliviana De Aviacion © Dmitriyrnd | Dreamstime.com
Bolivia’s national carrier Boliviana de Aviación (BoA) will launch its second U.S. route this fall — and it’s shaping up to be one of the longest, least comfortable narrowbody flights in the world.
Route Details
Starting Tuesday, November 4, 2025, BoA will operate twice-weekly service between Santa Cruz de la Sierra (VVI) and Washington Dulles (IAD) with a refueling stop in Panama City (PTY). The schedule is as follows:
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OB760 — Santa Cruz (VVI) 9:30 a.m. → Panama City (PTY) 1:10 p.m.
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OB760 — Panama City (PTY) 1:50 p.m. → Washington (IAD) 6:40 p.m.
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OB761 — Washington (IAD) 8:05 p.m. → Panama City (PTY) 12:55 a.m. (+1)
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OB761 — Panama City (PTY) 1:35 a.m. → Santa Cruz (VVI) 7:15 a.m.
Flights will run Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Aircraft & Onboard Experience
The route will be operated by an all-economy Boeing 737 with no seatback entertainment and no Wi-Fi. Passengers will spend over 11 hours onboard — 4h40m to Panama, a 40-minute refueling stop without deplaning, and another 4h50m to Washington.
While BoA owns three Airbus A330 widebodies — with a more comfortable product — these are reserved for its Miami and Madrid services.
Why Washington?
The Washington, D.C. metro area has the largest Bolivian population in the U.S., estimated at around 30,000 people. BoA may be hoping to capture this niche market, while also offering low fares for connecting passengers heading onward to Buenos Aires or São Paulo.
However, competing carriers already offer fares around $500 roundtrip, and the limited Tuesday/Thursday schedule may make it harder for leisure and business travelers to maximize time off.
Bottom Line
As of November, travelers will have the option to fly Santa Cruz – Washington Dulles on BoA’s 737, with a quick Panama refueling stop but no opportunity to stretch legs. While the route taps into the D.C. area’s Bolivian community, it may also contend for the title of “world’s most miserable flight” — long, cramped, and lacking modern amenities.
