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Founder of Aerosur Returns with New Airline Neosur in Bid to Revive Bolivian Private Aviation

Dergam Mousa

Humberto Roca, one of the most recognized names in Bolivian commercial aviation, confirmed his intention to return to the sector with the creation of Neosur, a new airline aiming to begin operations in approximately one year. The announcement was made during an interview with the program Influyentes of EL DEBER, in what the businessman himself describes as a process of “reconstruction” for the country.

Roca was the founder of Aerosur, the private airline that dominated the Bolivian market for years and eventually disappeared amid financial, regulatory, and political conflicts. With Neosur, the entrepreneur makes clear that this is not a formal resurrection, but a new attempt, with a different corporate structure and a different name—though with an evident symbolic connection.

Neosur: Corporate Structure, Timelines, and Family Leadership

Roca explained that the first step has already been taken: the creation of the incorporated company Neosur, a basic requirement within the typical timelines of the aviation industry. The shareholding structure will be in the hands of his children, with Humberto Roca (son) as the central figure of the project.

According to the businessman, the planned schedule to begin operations is about one year—a timeframe he described as “prudent” within the demands of commercial aviation, considering certifications, regulatory processes, and operational start-up.

A relevant point is the motivation behind the project. Roca stated that he convinced his son to return to Bolivia under the premise that it is the “land of opportunity,” and that the relaunch of private aviation should take place regardless of who is in government at the time. The declared goal is to “build and unite,” a phrase that summarizes the politically neutral approach the businessman seeks to convey for this new stage.

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Why Aerosur Cannot Return and the Weight of the Name

Roca was categorical in explaining why Aerosur will not return as a brand. According to him, the name was irreparably damaged by what he describes as a systematic campaign by the government of the Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) over the last 20 years.

“I could not revive Aerosur because it is a name that, unfortunately, was destroyed by the government,” he stated. Hence emerges Neosur, which he explicitly defined as “a new Aerosur,” though without carrying the reputational and legal baggage that, in his view, ultimately buried the original airline.

Conflict with MAS and the Role of BoA

One of the central themes of Roca’s testimony is his direct confrontation with MAS governments, particularly during the presidency of Evo Morales. The businessman argued that Aerosur accumulated 11 legal proceedings, driven—in his account—with the goal of destroying the private company and facilitating the imposition of Boliviana de Aviación (BoA) as the dominant state-owned airline.

Among the actions mentioned are tax-related proceedings and measures that at times paralyzed the service of several aircraft, directly affecting passenger traffic and air connections. Roca described this scenario as a combination of administrative pressure, operational restrictions, and a campaign of personal and corporate discredit.

In his analysis, BoA was not only a state-owned company but part of a control model that, had it fully consolidated, would have eliminated private enterprises. Roca characterized that period as one of a “totalitarian government” and claimed that time has proven him right.

Neosur and the Challenge of Starting Over

The return of Humberto Roca to the Bolivian aviation scene has not gone unnoticed. For industry executives, Neosur represents a case study on the possibility—or difficulty—of rebuilding private aviation in a market historically strained between the state and independent operators. For enthusiasts, it is an attempt to return a surname intimately linked to the recent history of Bolivian skies to the air.

Whether Neosur will manage to take off or will remain a statement of intent depends on factors still unknown. For now, the announcement marks an inflection point and raises a central question for regional aviation: Is there space for a new Aerosur in today’s Bolivia?

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