Updated Date:
Author: Nazca Lines Tour Editorial Team
Quick Summary: Three names dominate Nazca Lines flight searches — Aerodiana, AeroNasca and Movil Air — but two of them changed significantly in 2026. Movil Air now trades as Meteorito Aerolíneas after a change of ownership, and Aerodiana’s operations were suspended by Peru’s transport ministry on 2 August 2026 following a fatal crash near Nazca. This guide explains who is actually flying, what the real cost is once airport fees are added, and the specific questions to ask before you hand over money.
Most “best Nazca Lines airline” lists were written before 2026 and are now out of date. If you are booking this year, you need to know two things that changed: one of the three big names is operating under a different brand, and another is not currently flying at all.
This guide covers what is verified as of September 2026, how the fee structure actually works at the aerodrome, and — more usefully — how to judge an operator yourself, because operator status in Nazca can change faster than any article can keep up with.
Two developments matter more than any price comparison.
Movil Air is now Meteorito Aerolíneas. In mid-2024, an investment fund from the United Arab Emirates acquired a controlling stake in Movil Air S.A.C., and the company has since rebranded as Meteorito Aerolíneas. It started out in 2000 flying sightseeing circuits over Nazca with Cessna 207A and 208 Grand Caravan aircraft, and is now moving toward a broader commercial airline model. If you see “Movil Air” on an older booking page or a hotel flyer, it refers to the same operation under its former name.
Aerodiana is suspended. On 1 August 2026, an Aerodiana Cessna 208B Grand Caravan that had departed Pisco airport crashed near Nazca. All 13 people aboard — 11 passengers and two crew — were killed. Peru’s Ministry of Transport and Communications ordered a preventive suspension of Aerodiana’s operations the following day, pending verification that the company complied with aviation regulations. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Commission opened an inquiry, and no cause had been formally established at the time of the suspension.
That suspension was a targeted regulatory action against one company, not a shutdown of Nazca overflights generally. Other operators continued flying from María Reiche Neuman aerodrome in Nazca. But if you are reading an older comparison that ranks Aerodiana highly, treat it as stale and confirm the company’s current status directly before booking anything.
| Option | Departs from | Typical flight time | Aircraft | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nazca Lines Tour | Nazca (María Reiche Neuman) | 30–35 min | Varies by partner operator | First-time visitors who want the flight, fees and airport logistics explained in one place before they arrive |
| AeroNasca | Nazca; also sold from Paracas | 30–35 min | Cessna light aircraft, pilot and co-pilot | Travelers who want the standard circuit with the most booking availability |
| Meteorito Aerolíneas (formerly Movil Air) | Nazca | 30–35 min; longer Nazca + Palpa routes | Cessna 207A (6 seats), Grand Caravan (12 seats) | Groups and anyone who prefers a larger cabin with air conditioning |
| Air Majoro | Nazca | 30–35 min | Cessna light aircraft | Travelers booking locally in Nazca town |
| Aerodiana | Pisco | ~1 hr 35 min – 1 hr 45 min | Cessna 208B Grand Caravan | Not currently applicable — operations suspended since 2 August 2026 |
Nazca Lines Tour is not an airline and does not own aircraft. It is listed first because the practical problem most travelers have is not choosing between two Cessna operators — it is understanding the whole sequence of getting to Nazca, reaching the aerodrome, paying the right fees in the right currency, and knowing what happens if the wind picks up. That is where an organized booking earns its keep.
Operator rankings age badly here. A better habit is to run the same five checks on whoever you are considering.
Be particularly cautious with informal sellers, unnamed agencies and prices that sit far below the market. The cheapest option in Nazca has historically not been the well-maintained one.
Nazca overflights have a difficult history and it is worth being straightforward about it rather than reassuring.
After a cluster of accidents around 2010, Peruvian authorities grounded the fleet and ran full inspections. Only a small fraction of aircraft and a handful of companies were cleared to resume — reporting from the period puts it at seven of 48 planes and four of 14 operators. Standards improved substantially after that, and co-pilots became standard on most aircraft.
There have still been fatal accidents since. In February 2022, a Cessna 207 operated by Aerosantos crashed shortly after takeoff from the Nazca aerodrome, killing all seven aboard. The August 2026 Aerodiana crash killed 13. Both prompted regulatory action.
What this means practically: the flight is not risk-free, regulation is real but reactive, and operator choice genuinely matters. Plenty of travelers weigh this up and decide the ground viewing tower is enough for them. That is a reasonable call, not a lesser one — the tower shows the Tree, the Hands and part of the Lizard for a few soles, though it cannot show you the full composition the way an overflight does.
The advertised fare is not the total. Two fees are collected in cash at the aerodrome, on the day:
That is roughly S/77 on top of the base fare, and card payment is not reliable at the smaller counters. Bring soles.
Base fares from Nazca typically run about US$85–150 for the standard circuit, depending on operator, season and whether you book online or locally. Flights departing Pisco sit far higher — commonly quoted around US$300–380 — with a higher airport tax at that end, often listed near S/70.
One more cost to plan for: if you weigh more than the operator’s threshold, you may be asked to pay for an additional seat at the airfield. Thresholds vary between roughly 90 kg and 108 kg depending on the company, and the surcharge is usually quoted between about US$60 and US$80 at Nazca.
Who you book through shapes what happens when something goes wrong, and in Nazca something often does.
If you are still working out how to reach Nazca in the first place, our guides to getting to Nazca and the Lima–Nazca route cover the road logistics that sit either side of the flight.
Is Aerodiana flying again in 2026?
As of the most recent confirmed information, Aerodiana’s operations were suspended by Peru’s Ministry of Transport and Communications on 2 August 2026, pending completion of an investigation into whether the company complied with applicable aviation regulations. The suspension was framed as remaining in force until those checks were finished, which means the status can change. Check the company’s own channels and current news before booking or before paying a deposit through any third party that lists Aerodiana as the operator.
What happened to Movil Air?
Nothing was shut down — the company was renamed. Movil Air S.A.C. came under new controlling ownership in mid-2024 through a United Arab Emirates investment fund, and now operates as Meteorito Aerolíneas. It still runs sightseeing flights over the Nazca and Palpa geoglyphs, and is separately working toward scheduled commercial routes with larger aircraft. Older reviews, booking pages and hotel leaflets referring to Movil Air are describing the same operation.
Which company is the safest choice for a Nazca Lines flight?
No one can honestly hand you a single name, because safety performance here is company-specific and changes over time. What you can do is check that the operator is DGAC-authorized, ask whether the flight is crewed by a pilot and co-pilot, confirm the aircraft type, and read the written weather and cancellation terms. Companies that answer those questions clearly and in writing are generally the ones running tighter operations.
Do I pay the airport tax and tourist ticket separately?
Yes, in almost all cases. The airport tax of around S/30 and the S/47 Nazca Lines tourist ticket are collected at the aerodrome on the day of your flight, in cash, in Peruvian soles. Very few online fares include them, so budget roughly S/77 per person on top of whatever you paid to book. Card terminals are not dependable at the counters, so withdraw soles in Nazca or Ica beforehand.
Is it cheaper to book when I arrive in Nazca?
Sometimes, but you are trading price for certainty. Walking up to the aerodrome or booking through a hostel can find you a lower fare, especially outside peak season. The risk is that you get shuffled onto whichever aircraft fills first, which may not be the company you researched — a complaint that appears repeatedly in traveler reviews. If flying with a specific operator matters to you, book that operator directly and get written confirmation of the aircraft and company name.
Operator status in Nazca is unusually changeable right now. Aerodiana’s suspension was a preventive measure tied to an open investigation, and it may be lifted, extended or followed by wider regulatory changes affecting other operators or the Pisco departure point — none of which will be reflected here in real time. Fares, the S/30 airport tax, the S/47 tourist ticket and weight surcharges are all set by third parties and change without notice. Flight times shift daily with wind, visibility and air traffic, and companies periodically rebrand, merge or pause operations. Confirm current status, pricing and cancellation terms directly with your operator or booking platform within a few days of flying, and build at least one spare morning into your itinerary.