Airbus has started critical certification trials for the A321XLR at Bolivia’s Aeropuerto Internacional de Alcantarí, situated at 3,104 meters above sea level in Chuquisaca department. The six-day tests assess aircraft performance in extreme high-altitude conditions, simulating real commercial operations.
A French crew of pilots and specialists collaborates with Bolivia’s state-run Navegación Aérea y Aeropuertos Bolivianos (NAABOL). Engineers will gather data on operation times at high-elevation airfields, fuel consumption under low-pressure atmospheres, and crew procedures in demanding environments. The airport, opened in 2016 near Sucre to replace the Juana Azurduy de Padilla facility, offers ideal technical, operational, and safety capabilities for such advanced trials.
NAABOL director Jaime Machicao noted that hosting these tests positions Alcantarí as a global benchmark for cutting-edge aeronautical technology.