Abra Group and Etihad Airways have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to establish a partnership that could encompass a wide range of cooperation, including codesharing and aircraft leasing.
Abra is the parent company of Colombia's Avianca, Brazil's Gol and Spain's Wamos Air.
The collaboration between Abra and Abu Dhabi-based Etihad is aimed at “strengthening connectivity between Latin America, the Middle East and Asia through the combined networks of Etihad and Abra's airlines,” the companies said in a statement. Specific details of the planned partnership were not disclosed, but the companies outlined several potential areas of cooperation.
“A key objective of the partnership is to create a new bridge, opening new horizons for Abra's travelers through Etihad's network across the Middle East, Asia, the Indian subcontinent and Australia, while providing Etihad customers with increased access to destinations throughout Latin America,” the companies said.
Etihad does not currently serve South America, and neither Avianca nor Gol operates flights to the Middle East. No new routes were announced. The companies plan to cooperate through reciprocal loyalty benefits, codesharing and the potential dry lease of an Airbus A330-900 by Etihad beginning in November.
Etihad also said wet-lease specialist Wamos Air is expected to support the airline's expansion plans. Both Abra and Etihad have agreements with Avolon to lease A330-900s. Etihad also has a firm order with Airbus for six of the type. Wamos operates A330ceo aircraft. The partnership is expected to begin later this year.
Abra and Etihad said they will “continue working toward definitive agreements governing the proposed initiatives, subject to regulatory approvals, commercial agreements and operational feasibility assessments.”
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