El Alto Intl
A Journey Through Time
1965 — 2015
1960s
1965
El Alto International Airport near La Paz opened in 1965 at an elevation of 4,061 metres (13,325 feet) above sea level — making it the highest international airport in the world.
1970s
1970
The extreme altitude requires special takeoff procedures: aircraft need much longer runways and cannot fly at full capacity. Pilots require specific training and certification for El Alto operations.
2010s
2015
Despite its altitude challenges, El Alto handles over 3 million passengers annually and remains the primary gateway to Bolivia's administrative capital and the famous Salar de Uyuni.
Present