TAB (Transportes Aereos Bolivianos) is Bolivia's state-owned international cargo airline, founded in 1977. It operates scheduled all-cargo service between Bolivia and the United States from its hub at Viru Viru International Airport (VVI) in Santa Cruz. The airline positions itself as Your all cargo airline to Bolivia and carries all types of cargo into the country. Chinese exports connect through Miami and other hubs to Santa Cruz, La Paz and Cochabamba, with capacity and schedules subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking.
TAB (Transportes Aereos Bolivianos) is Bolivia's national cargo airline. Founded in 1977 as the air transport management division of the Bolivian Air Force, it later became a state-owned civil cargo carrier. IATA code 2L, ICAO code BOL, radio call sign BOL, air waybill (AWB) prefix 901. The operating headquarters is in La Paz and the hub is Viru Viru International Airport (IATA VVI, ICAO SLVR) in Santa Cruz, with La Paz El Alto (LPB) and Cochabamba (CBB) as the main points inside Bolivia.
TAB carries scheduled freight between Bolivia and the United States with all-cargo aircraft and has long operated McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30F widebody freighters; it also used Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft for heavy lifts in the past. In September 2026, under Bolivia's open skies policy and a restructuring, the airline resumed scheduled operations, restoring long-haul freighter capacity from its Santa Cruz base and operating cargo schedules from Bolivia's main international cargo gateway. Its stated positioning is Your all cargo airline to Bolivia, carrying all types of cargo into the country.
For Chinese shippers, TAB is an all-cargo option for exports entering the Bolivian market. There are no nonstop routes from China to Bolivia: Chinese exports transit international hubs such as Miami (MIA) and are then carried by TAB freighters to Santa Cruz, La Paz and Cochabamba, completing the chain into this inland South American market. The airline has no published dedicated cargo office in China and its China business runs through agents. We, Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited (Goodhope Freight), can arrange mainline booking, transit connection and confirmation of capacity toward Bolivia.
Trade between China and Bolivia is steady, and Chinese goods hold an important place in Bolivia's import mix: machinery and electrical products, vehicles and parts, building materials, textiles and apparel, consumer goods and mining equipment. Bolivia sits at the centre of the South American continent, Santa Cruz is its largest city and commercial centre, and Viru Viru is the country's main international cargo gateway, from which Chinese cargo can be distributed across Bolivia and neighbouring markets.
Bolivia's air cargo structure is built on international mainline service plus domestic ground distribution. Santa Cruz lies in the lowland plains and is the natural gateway for international freight, while La Paz and Cochabamba sit in the highlands and valleys and are reached by road after transiting Santa Cruz. Chinese exports clear customs at the gateway that suits the destination city. Santa Cruz has the more mature clearance and warehousing conditions and suits consolidated imports that are then distributed, while highland cities are reached overland; we explain the operational differences between gateways at the planning stage. Miami is the main transit hub for Chinese cargo entering Bolivia, with several freighter and belly operators serving South America, so mainline options are plentiful, though peak season space should be secured early.
TAB's operating background is tied directly to Bolivian aviation policy. The country has pushed an open skies policy in recent years and has gradually admitted more carriers to the international cargo market, with TAB as the local all-cargo operator carrying the main trunk role in Bolivia's external freight. The airline bases its cargo operation at Santa Cruz and its North American sector to Miami is the trunk line. Chinese cargo bound for eastern and central Bolivia enters fairly directly on this path; for highland destinations we assess the inland connection at the time of booking.
TAB has no published scheduled China route or dedicated office in China; its China business works through connections. Chinese cargo transits hubs such as Miami and is then carried by TAB freighter to Bolivia. We handle the full connection for Chinese exports toward Bolivia, including mainline booking, transit handover, freighter loading and coordination of clearance at destination.
Santa Cruz Viru Viru is Bolivia's international cargo gateway and carries the bulk of the country's air freight. After entering through this gateway, Chinese cargo can reach the La Paz highlands, the Cochabamba valley and border trade zones over Bolivia's road network, forming a complete distribution system.
TAB's official website is tabairlines.com, a plain text domain. The airline is headquartered in La Paz and operates from Santa Cruz Viru Viru; cargo is handled by its commercial team. No dedicated cargo office in China has been published, and requirements are handled through agents.
Chinese exporters with freight requirements toward Bolivia can have them assessed and arranged by us. We liaise with the carrier's commercial team and with ground agents at the Miami and Viru Viru hubs on capacity and handling. Requirements can be submitted at our website goodhope86.com, and we handle booking, transit tracking and clearance coordination.
TAB's current main type is the McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30F widebody freighter, a three-engine widebody with both main deck and lower holds configured for cargo and the range for heavy long-haul freight, suited to the Santa Cruz to United States sector. The airline has also used Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft for medium and long heavy lifts; the fleet mix is being adjusted through the restructuring, and actual capacity follows the carrier's current publications.
| Aircraft type | Positioning | Freight characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30F | Widebody freighter, workhorse of the regional scheduled cargo operation | Main deck takes palletised and bulk shipments; long-haul capacity on the Santa Cruz to United States sector |
| Lockheed C-130 (historical) | Medium and long haul heavy lifts | Previously used for heavy and outsized cargo |
Chinese export cargo is loaded on the TAB main deck, with loading conditions checked against floor load limits, door dimensions and main deck volume. Consolidated shipments are palletised, and special cargo is assessed in advance by size and weight. Capacity toward Bolivia is confirmed shipment by shipment, and peak season space should be booked early.
TAB has no published scheduled cargo route in China. Chinese exports connect to the airline mainly by mainline service from China to Miami plus the Miami to Santa Cruz freighter sector: the mainline leg departs major Chinese airports and reaches Miami on an operating international carrier, and TAB carries the Bolivian sector.
| Connection method | Typical use | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| China–Miami mainline | Bulk shipments exported from China to Bolivia | Frequent mainline services run from Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong to Miami MIA, where TAB freighters connect to Santa Cruz. |
| Via Panama City and the Lima hub | Combined routings to South America | Cargo transits Panama City PTY or Lima LIM, combining regional South American capacity into Bolivia. |
| Charter and full-aircraft assessment | Full-aircraft charters for bulk or special cargo | Charter feasibility is assessed from the cargo data, then confirmed with the carrier on fleet availability and routing before execution. |
There are currently no nonstop cargo flights from China to Bolivia; the whole journey transits a third-country hub. The operating carrier, schedule and rate are confirmed on the day of booking.
An East China main gateway with dense mainline frequency via Miami, suited to consolidated shipments of general cargo, heavy freight and temperature-controlled cargo.
A core gateway for South China manufacturing cargo. Machinery and electrical goods, electronics and auto parts move easily, and Shenzhen cargo can be trucked to Hong Kong warehouses for handover.
The international cargo network is complete, freighter capacity via Miami is ample, and the setup suits concentrated shipments of heavy bulk cargo.
A North China gateway that holds trans-Pacific and South America capacity, convenient for North China cargo to depart close to origin.
With Santa Cruz Viru Viru as the gateway, Chinese exports can enter Bolivia via TAB cargo points such as Miami. The airline's network links Santa Cruz, La Paz, Cochabamba and Miami, and its Bolivian points cover the country's main economic centres, so Chinese cargo can transit whichever hub connects best with mainline schedules.
TAB's day-of-week schedules on each route change with the operating plan. After scheduled operations resumed in September 2026 frequencies are being restored gradually, and no fixed full-year timetable has been published; actual schedules change with the season and are subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking. For Chinese exporters assessing paths into Bolivia via each hub, we can provide a connection plan based on the destination market and cargo profile.
There are no nonstop cargo flights from China to Bolivia. The following are the viable current paths from China to Santa Cruz VVI, arranged by us according to weight, dimensions and transit time target; the operating carrier and schedule are confirmed on the day of booking.
| Path | Origin China | Transit hub | Bolivia leg carrier | Indicative transit time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| via Miami | Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong | Miami MIA | TAB 2L | About 6–9 days |
| Via Panama City | Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou | Panama City PTY | South America regional carrier | About 7–10 days |
| Via Lima | Shanghai, Guangzhou | Lima LIM | South America regional carrier | About 7–10 days |
| Via Sao Paulo | Shanghai and Beijing | Sao Paulo GRU | South America regional carrier | About 8–12 days |
Airport-to-airport reference transit time is about 6 to 12 working days; door to door, including inland pickup in China, export declaration, Bolivian clearance and delivery, is typically about 9 to 15 days. These are the published industry reference figures for forwarders. Regional connections, peak season space and customs inspection can all change actual arrival, and schedules change with the season, subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking.
For cargo destined to La Paz and Cochabamba, we also arrange the inland connection after landing in Santa Cruz, choosing road haulage or regional flights according to cargo profile and transit time target, with milestones tracked throughout.
TAB freighter capacity from Miami reaches Santa Cruz directly and is the first choice on the all-cargo path; Panama City and Lima offer regional capacity combinations; Sao Paulo suits eastern South American origin cargo. We combine options according to ship date and transit time target and explain the trade-offs and rate differences to the customer.
Since resuming scheduled operations TAB has run to its operating plan. No fixed full-year timetable has been published; times are local, schedules change with the season, and confirmation rests with the carrier on the day of booking.
TAB is Bolivia's state-owned all-cargo carrier. Positioned as Your all cargo airline to Bolivia, it carries freight into the country and is the freighter option for Chinese goods entering that market.
The DC-10-30F widebody freighter has long-haul consolidated freight capability and suits concentrated shipments of Chinese machinery and electrical products, building materials and consumer goods to Bolivia.
The network covers Santa Cruz, La Paz and Cochabamba, so Chinese cargo entering through the Viru Viru gateway can reach the whole country and neighbouring markets.
Capacity on the Bolivian sector is confirmed shipment by shipment. We combine mainline, transit and final leg according to destination market and cargo profile, so the plan stays adjustable and milestones stay visible.
| Cargo categories | Notes | China export reference |
|---|---|---|
| General cargo | Machinery and electrical products, building materials, consumer goods, textiles and apparel, and similar standard air cargo | Common cargo exported from China to Bolivia, booked and loaded through the standard process. |
| Heavy cargo in bulk | Auto parts, machinery and metal products, loaded on pallets in the main deck | Bulk shipments are assessed against main-deck freighter capacity and suit consolidated departures. |
| High-value cargo | Precision instruments, telecom equipment and medical devices; reinforced packing can be arranged | High-value cargo is declared per shipment, and we manage the loading and handover process. |
| Dangerous goods | Battery-powered products and chemicals are accepted under IATA dangerous goods rules | Compliant declaration documents are required, and acceptance conditions should be confirmed at the booking stage. |
| Temperature-controlled cargo | Pharmaceuticals and food are carried under temperature-control requirements | Temperature-control conditions are subject to carrier confirmation, so check cold-chain requirements before shipment. |
| Oversize and overweight cargo | Oversize equipment and out-of-gauge cargo are assessed against freighter door size and floor load | Assess loading feasibility in advance against per-piece dimensions and weight. |
Cargo from China to Bolivia is mainly machinery and electrical products, auto parts, building materials, medical devices and consumer goods. Acceptance standards follow the operating carrier's rules; dangerous goods, temperature-controlled cargo and out-of-gauge cargo have to be declared at the booking stage.
Bookings involving TAB capacity on the Bolivian sector are confirmed shipment by shipment. After the exporter submits the destination market and cargo details, we complete mainline booking, transit connection and confirmation of Bolivian sector capacity, producing a complete shipping plan.
| Step | Content |
|---|---|
| Step one | Give us the commodity, weight, volume, piece dimensions, destination city and transit time required, and we check the freighter loading conditions. |
| Step two | We match the Chinese origin airport with the transit hub, confirm mainline schedule and rate, and assess freighter capacity on the Bolivian sector at the same time. |
| Step three | Cargo moves on the mainline flight to the hub, is handed over in transit and loaded on the TAB freighter to Santa Cruz, with milestones tracked throughout. |
| Step four | After landing in Santa Cruz, customs clearance is completed, pickup or delivery is arranged, and exceptions and claims are handled. |
Customers do not have to deal separately with the mainline carrier, the transit hub agent, the freighter operator and the customs broker. We coordinate all of these and follow every issue through to resolution.
The mainline rate, freighter leg charges, fuel surcharge, ground handling, documentation fee, customs fees and any storage or inspection charges are itemized so the customer can see where each cost comes from.
Before booking we check each piece against freighter door dimensions, hold volume and floor load, so unworkable options are ruled out early and cargo is not rejected at the warehouse.
For delays, damage, discrepancies between documents and goods, and customs holds in transit, we handle the process under the carrier's rules and the conditions of carriage, so clients do not have to deal with unfamiliar procedures on their own.
No scheduled cargo route or dedicated cargo office in China has been published. Chinese cargo transits hubs such as Miami and is then carried by TAB to Bolivia, with arrangements confirmed shipment by shipment.
The current main type is the McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30F widebody freighter; Lockheed C-130 aircraft were also used historically. The fleet mix is being adjusted through the restructuring and follows the carrier's current publications.
Yes. There are no nonstop cargo flights from China to Bolivia; cargo transits Miami, Panama City, Lima and other hubs to Santa Cruz VVI, with us coordinating the connections.
The network covers Santa Cruz (VVI), La Paz (LPB) and Cochabamba (CBB), so Chinese cargo entering through the Santa Cruz gateway can be distributed nationwide.
Airport to airport is about 6 to 12 working days, and door to door is typically about 9 to 15 days. Actual transit time depends on connections, peak season capacity and destination clearance, and is subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking.
TAB freighter capacity from Miami reaches Santa Cruz directly and is the first choice on the all-cargo path; Panama City and Lima offer regional combinations. The route is set by ship date and transit time target.
Standard cargo needs an air waybill, commercial invoice, packing list and export declaration documents. Import declaration for Bolivia follows destination customs requirements, and restricted goods need an import permit or compliance certificate.
Oversize and overweight cargo is assessed shipment by shipment against freighter door dimensions, hold volume and floor load; where standard capacity is not enough, a charter is evaluated, with the cargo data deciding.
Cargo transiting Miami is handled under US transhipment rules. We coordinate the transit documents and the connecting capacity, and cargo subject to US inspection requirements should be flagged at the booking stage.
Import duty is paid by the consignee at clearance in Bolivia by default. If the shipper is to bear it, a duty-paid delivery term can be agreed at booking and we will help calculate the duty and taxes.
Santa Cruz VVI is the gateway into Bolivia. On arrival, TAB regional flights connect to La Paz LPB and Cochabamba CBB, and cargo is distributed across the country from there. We coordinate the distribution and final delivery, and the shipper only needs to provide final consignee details. Remote-area delivery is confirmed at the booking stage, and actual transit and delivery arrangements are subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking.
Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited (Goodhope Freight) assesses cargo connections from China to Bolivia, covering mainline booking, transit connection and the final freighter leg.
Visit goodhope86.com for air freight optionsDisclaimer: prepared by Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited (Goodhope Freight) to describe publicly available cargo information about TAB (Transportes Aereos Bolivianos). Content is compiled from public sources and provided for reference only; it is not a contract of carriage or a commitment. Rights in the TAB name and in related names, codes and brand marks belong to their owners. We are an independently operated freight forwarder with no affiliation, agency or investment relationship with the airline. Actual capacity and rates are subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking.