Etihad Airways and Abra Group have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen air connectivity between Latin America, the Middle East and Asia through closer cooperation between Etihad and Abra's airlines, including Avianca, GOL and Wamos Air.

The partnership will explore opportunities in network development, codeshare agreements, loyalty programmes, aircraft leasing, ACMI services and wider commercial collaboration, with initial initiatives expected to launch in 2026, subject to regulatory approvals.

The agreement aims to provide Abra customers with greater access to Etihad's network across the Middle East, Asia, the Indian Subcontinent and Australia, while expanding travel options for Etihad passengers across Latin America.

As part of the collaboration, GOL and Etihad will evaluate the dry lease of an Airbus A330-900, targeted to begin in November 2026, while Wamos Air is expected to support Etihad's growth with up to three aircraft from March 2027.

Adrian Neuhauser, Chief Executive Officer of Abra Group, said: "This partnership reflects Abra's strategy of leveraging the complementary strengths of Avianca, GOL and Wamos Air to expand connectivity and unlock new commercial opportunities.Together with Etihad, we are building a new bridge between Latin America and the Middle East, while exploring innovative ways to bring our brands and operations together across network development, loyalty and fleet cooperation. It is an honor for our teams at Avianca to work alongside Etihad — from South America to the United Arab Emirates, this joint effort reflects our shared commitment to outstanding service, offering our customers the best of both worlds. This is an important step in advancing Abra's vision of a more connected and competitive airline.”

Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said: "Latin America is an increasingly important market for Etihad, and this partnership creates a powerful platform to connect more travellers with Abu Dhabi and destinations across our expanding global network. This partnership brings together two complementary airline groups to create stronger connections between our regions. Together, we are creating stronger links between Latin America, Abu Dhabi and destinations across our global network, expanding opportunities for our guests while supporting Abu Dhabi's continued growth as a destination and hub.” -TradeArabia News Service