Transporte Aéreo Militar

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.^[3][4]

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.^[5]

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.^[6][7][8]

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.^[9][10]

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.^[11]

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.^[12]

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.^[13][1]

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.^[14]

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.^[15] 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.^[16][17][18]

Current fleet

As of December 2025^[update], TAMep operates the following aircraft:^[22]

Gallery

• TAMep Current Fleet
• 
  Boeing 737-200
• 
  Avro RJ70
• 
  British Aerospace 146

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.

• TAMep Historic Fleet
• 
  Boeing 727
• 
  BAe 146
• 
  Xi'an MA60