TAMep (Transporte Aéreo Militar Empresa Pública) is a Bolivian military-owned regional airline based in La Paz, Bolivia. Affiliated with the Bolivian Air Force, it was created as a logistical branch for passenger transport to serve rural communities where commercial airlines could not operate profitably. In 2019, it temporarily suspended operations and became a public enterprise, resuming flights in 2024 after a restructuring process.Schmitz, Sebastian (February 2014). Airliner World. Key Publishing. pp. 32–37.

History

Creation The Transporte Aéreo Militar (TAM) was created in 1945 as an air transport unit of the Bolivian Air Force (FAB), with the primary mission of providing air connectivity to remote and isolated regions of Bolivia where commercial aviation services were limited or nonexistent. Its origins date back to 1944, when the Escuadrón de Transporte Aéreo (ETA) was established to support military logistics and national integration. TAM formally began operations on 15 June 1945 with Douglas C-47 aircraft, which were used for passenger transport, cargo carriage and logistical missions, playing a significant role in connecting isolated communities and strengthening state presence across the country.

Expansion and early commercial operations In 1953, the organization adopted the name Transporte Aéreo Militar (TAM), consolidating its institutional identity within the Bolivian Air Force. During the mid-1950s, TAM expanded its scope beyond exclusively military transport and began operating regular commercial passenger services on domestic routes. Over the following decades, the airline became an important component of Bolivia's internal air transport system, serving departmental capitals and smaller cities, often in regions with limited infrastructure or low commercial demand, where private airlines were unwilling or unable to operate sustainably.

Over the decades, Transporte Aéreo Militar operated a varied fleet of aircraft reflecting its dual role as a military transport service and a provider of passenger and cargo services across Bolivia. Throughout its history, the organization flew piston and turboprop types such as the Douglas C‑47, Fokker F27 Friendship, CASA C-212 Aviocar and Convair CV‑440/580, alongside jet airliners including the Boeing 727, Boeing 737‑200, Boeing 737-300 and British Aerospace 146; many of these aircraft served both remote regional routes and higher‑capacity trunk services, illustrating the evolution of TAM's operational capabilities over time.

In 2008, Transporte Aéreo Militar integrated Xi'an MA60 aircraft into its fleet as part of a broader effort to modernize the Bolivian Air Force’s transport capabilities. The incorporation of the Chinese‑built turboprop MA60 aimed to enhance the institutional air transport service by supporting passenger and cargo operations across domestic routes and logistical missions, contributing to greater mobility and operational efficiency for TAM.

Restructuring and suspension of operations As part of broader reforms in the state aviation sector, the Bolivian government initiated a process to transform TAM into a civil public airline. This transformation was formalized by Supreme Decree No. 3444 of 2017, which established the restructuring of TAM as a public enterprise separate from direct military administration. The transition required significant organizational and regulatory adjustments, including compliance with civil aviation standards and oversight by national aviation authorities. During this period of institutional change, TAM suspended its regular flight operations in July 2018.

Although authorization was later granted to temporarily resume services in 2019, TAM continued to face financial, administrative and regulatory challenges, including outstanding tax obligations and difficulties in obtaining full operational certification. As a result, all flight operations were again suspended on 23 September 2019, initiating a prolonged period of inactivity while the government assessed alternatives for the airline's future and potential restructuring.

Present years After several years without commercial activity, the airline was reestablished as Transporte Aéreos Militares – Empresa Pública (TAMep) and officially resumed operations on 31 May 2024. The relaunch marked a rebranding from TAM to TAMep and was carried out with a limited operational structure. At the time, the airline operated a single aircraft, an Avro RJ70 registered CP-3106, which served initial domestic routes connecting La Paz with Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Cochabamba and Cobija. Government authorities stated that administrative and technical procedures were underway to allow for a gradual expansion of services to additional destinations within Bolivia.

In October 2025, TAMep temporarily suspended operations due to scheduled maintenance on its only operational aircraft, underscoring the operational constraints associated with a single-aircraft fleet. The airline indicated that services would resume following the completion of the maintenance work, characterizing the interruption as temporary rather than structural.

Later that year, amid broader challenges in Bolivia's aviation sector and increased passenger demand during the year-end holiday season, the government announced solidarity flights to mitigate disruptions affecting domestic air services. These flights were to be operated by the Bolivian Air Force, which made two aircraft available to the airline: a British Aerospace 146 and a Boeing 737-200, reflecting the continued role of state and military resources in supporting civil aviation during periods of operational strain.

Destinations As of December 2025, TAMep operates flights to the following destinations:

BaseFutureFocus cityTerminated

+ TAMep Destinations Department City Airport NotesBeniGuayaramerínCapitán Av. Emilio Beltrán AirportSuspendedRiberaltaCapitán Av. Selin Zeitun Lopez AirportRurrenabaqueRurrenabaque AirportTrinidadTeniente Jorge Henrich Arauz AirportSuspendedChuquisacaSucreAlcantarí International AirportSuspendedCochabambaCochabambaJorge Wilstermann International AirportLa PazLa PazEl Alto International AirportHubPandoCobijaCaptain Aníbal Arab AirportSanta CruzSanta Cruz de la SierraViru Viru International AirportTemporarily suspendedEl Trompillo AirportOperating temporarilyTarijaTarijaCapitán Oriel Lea Plaza AirportSuspended

Fleet

Current fleet , TAMep operates the following aircraft:

+TAMep Fleet Aircraft In service Orders Passengers NoteAvro RJ701—79Reg. CP-3106British Aerospace 1461—88Reg. FAB-106 Bolivian Air ForceBoeing 737-2001—125Reg. FAB-117 Bolivian Air ForceTOTAL3—

Gallery

Historic fleet Throughout its history, TAMep operated a highly diverse fleet composed of piston, turboprop, and turbojet aircraft, which over the years played a key role in providing air connectivity to remote cities across Bolivia. Some of these aircraft have been preserved and can now be seen at places such as the Bolivian Air Force Museum, located next to El Alto International Airport in La Paz, and the Aircraft Plaza at the Colegio Militar de Aviación (COLMILAV), adjacent to El Trompillo Airport in Santa Cruz de la Sierra.

+Retired TAMep Fleet Aircraft Total Introduced Retired NotesBasler BT-67219911997Reg. TAM-38 preserved in COLMILAV at SRZBeechcraft 1900C119982011Reg. FAB-043 to the Bolivian Air Force Crashed near El Alto in 2011Boeing 727-200120112013Reg. FAB-111 and at CBBBoeing 737-200620122015Reg. FAB-117 to the Bolivian Air Force Five aircraft and at CBBBoeing 737-300120132015Reg. FAB-115 at CBB after engine disappearanceBAe Jetstream 31220132014All two to the Bolivian Air Force British Aerospace 146720072017Reg. FAB-106 to the Bolivian Air Force Five aircraft and at LPB Reg. FAB-103 preserved in the Bolivian Air Force MuseumCASA C212619752017All six to the Bolivian Air Force Convair CV-4401319721990Reg. TAM-44 crashed near Caranavi in 1975Convair CV-580 Metropolitan819711997Reg. FAB-72 preserved in the Bolivian Air Force MuseumCurtiss C-46 Commando419641987All four to the Bolivian Air ForceDouglas DC-3/C-47 Dakota3419451997Reg. TAM-16 preserved in the Bolivian Air Force MuseumDouglas DC-4/C-54 Skymaster419451980Reg. TAM-52 disappeared on January 10, 1974 Debris located in 2000 on Mount Mik'aya near La PazFokker F27619792019Reg. FAB-90 to the Bolivian Air Force Reg. FAB-95 preserved in the Bolivian Air Force MuseumIAI 201 Arava619752018Reg. TAM-75 preserved in the Bolivian Air Force MuseumLockheed L-188 Electra119731995Reg. TAM-69 preserved in the Bolivian Air Force MuseumXi'an MA60220082012All two aircraft and at CBB

Accidents and incidents On 11 September 1962 Captain Walter Arze Rojas's aircraft crashed after the plane was given standard gasoline instead of aviation fuel. On 12 February 1970, Douglas DC-3 TAM-11 crashed while attempting an emergency landing at Laja Airport. The aircraft was operating a non-scheduled passenger flight. All five people on board survived. On 14 July 1970, Douglas DC-3 TAM-17 was damaged beyond repair in an accident at El Alto International Airport, La Paz. On 4 May 1971, Douglas C-47 TAM-22 crashed shortly after take-off from El Alto Airport, La Paz on a cargo flight to El Jovi Airport. On 25 September 1972, Douglas C-47A TAM-24 was reported to have been damaged beyond economic repair in an accident at Caranavi Airport. On 19 January 1974, Douglas DC-3 TAM-30 was damaged beyond economic repair in a wheels-up landing at Laia. On 11 November 1974, Douglas DC-3 TAM-34 crashed near the Sorata Mountain shortly after take-off from El Alto Airport. On 27 October 1975, a CV-440 crashed into the Cerro Colorado volcano during takeoff, killing all 4 crew and 63 passengers on board. The aircraft was carrying military officers and their families. On 18 March 2011, a Xian MA60 (with Bolivian registration FAB-96) with 33 passengers and crew aboard, performed an emergency landing without locked nose landing gear in the airport of the touristic Amazonian village of Rurrenabaque, on arrival from La Paz. No injuries were reported. On 9 January 2012 a Xian MA60 (with Bolivian registration FAB-96) with 16 passengers and 5 crew aboard performed an emergency landing without landing gear lowered at Guayaramerin on arrival from Riberalta. No injuries occurred, but the aircraft was substantially damaged.

References

External links

www.tamep.bo Página Oficial de TAMep. (In Spanish) Fuerza Aérea Boliviana (The website of the FAB, the Bolivian Air Force).