Santa Cruz Governor Juan Pablo Velasco Urges Privatizing Bolivia's BoA

Governor Juan Pablo Velasco of Bolivia’s Santa Cruz department urged that the state‑owned airline Boliviana de Aviación (BoA) be transferred to a new private owner rather than simply appoint a new manager. He said a “new owner that invests” would modernize the carrier, introduce competition, and eliminate the millions of bolivianos the airline currently loses each year.

Velasco criticized the ongoing public call for managerial candidates launched by the Ministry of Public Works, arguing that the focus should shift to finding an investor who can overhaul the airline, improve service quality, create jobs and attract national and foreign investment. He contended that state monopolies hinder innovation and burden citizens with higher costs.