1

You've found the site but you seem to miss "1925-2009" sign ;-) LAB is dead, Aerosur is almost dead (or maybe they've already finished it's sufferings)
The airline you are looking for is Amaszonas, they are the only one that flies there anyway.
For this particular airline booking online is the way to go. You don't need to book far in advance though.

2

#2 I didn't know that TAM started the route, thx for bringing this up.

3

Thanks so much! Any thoughts on which is safer? or maybe they are both fine?

4

I cannot tell about flight safety, but in other respects I would fly with Amaszonas. And I would use a Bolivia based travel agency to book domestic flights. I believe it would give an easier follow up in case of changes or refund.

Note that TAM has special rules about money back in case of cancellation.

See the threads Travel Agencies, Aug 12, 2011, and flights, pampas tours etc in rurrenabaque, Sep 22, 2011.

The name Amaszonas can be explained as "A más zonas" = "to more zones".

A useful page about airlines and airports in Bolivia: Boliviabella.com/airlines.html

In general to find information about flying: Use Wikipedia at en.wikipedia.org. All airlines and many airports in Bolivia are described:
Category: Airlines of Bolivia and Category: Airports in Bolivia

5

TAM flies only twice a week I believe. I used them because I needed the earlier arrival to La Paz than what was provided by Amaszonas because I was taking a bus at Noon. (Turned out didn't need to worry. There was a miners' strike and the bus was late - huge surprise!) The plane was Chinese-built, seats looked like they were an afterthought. Before the plane left, it was delayed, and the maintenance personnel was pouring something into the engines out of an open bucket. But nothing untoward happened - I am still around. TAM also can only be booked in Bolivia in person (you may only see schedules online, but not book the tickets); their office is near downtown, and it is predictably cheaper than Amaszonas.

If you sit on the left, you will be awarded a beautiful view of the Salar, and if you sit on the right, you will see lake Poopo later on into the flight. Having said that, seats on TAM are not marked, and you may seat wherever.