Airbus has started critical certification tests for its A321XLR aircraft at the International Airport of Alcantarí in Bolivia’s Chuquisaca department. The six-day evaluations, at an elevation of 3,104 meters above sea level, aim to validate the jet’s performance in high-altitude conditions.
A team of French pilots and specialized crew from Airbus is collaborating with Bolivia’s state-run Navegación Aérea y Aeropuertos Bolivianos (NAABOL). The Ministry of Public Works, Services and Housing noted that the tests involve technical assessments under demanding conditions, leveraging the site’s strategic location in southern Bolivia.
NAABOL Director Jaime Machicao stated that the airport’s technical, operational, and safety capabilities make it suitable for complex high-tech operations, positioning it as an international reference for advanced aeronautical technology.
Part of an international test and demonstration campaign, the A321XLR will simulate real commercial operations to gather data on takeoff and landing times at high-altitude airports, fuel consumption under low-pressure atmospheres, and crew procedures in high-demand environments.
Located in Yamparáez municipality, about 30 kilometers from constitutional capital Sucre, Alcantarí Airport opened in 2016 to replace the old Juana Azurduy de Padilla facility.