Abra Group and Etihad Airways have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a strategic alliance aimed at interconnecting their networks across Latin America, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. The agreement directly involves Abra’s subsidiary airlines—Avianca, GOL Linhas Aéreas, and Wamos Air—and encompasses codeshare agreements, reciprocal loyalty programs, ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) operations, and widebody aircraft operational leases beginning in 2026.
A Strategic Air Bridge Between Latin America and the Abu Dhabi Hub
The signing of this strategic agreement between Abra Group and Etihad Airways represents a key move in consolidating intercontinental traffic flows. The partnership combines the market penetration of Abra’s airlines in South America and Europe with Etihad’s global hub at Abu Dhabi International Airport.
The core objective of the alliance is to unlock new travel options for passengers on Abra’s network to the Middle East, Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and Australia. In turn, it will offer Etihad customers direct and streamlined access to multiple destinations across the Latin American market.
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Fleet Synergies: Dry Leases and ACMI Agreements
Beyond passenger connectivity, the agreement is notable for leveraging Abra’s multi-brand structure to provide tailored fleet solutions for both parties’ operational needs:
- 1. Airbus A330-900 Operational Lease for GOL:
GOL Linhas Aéreas and Etihad will evaluate the dry lease of an Airbus A330-900 aircraft, with a projected start date of November 2026. - 2. ACMI Capacity with Wamos Air:
Wamos Air, an ACMI and charter specialist airline within the Abra Group, will support Etihad’s global expansion by deploying up to three aircraft starting in March 2027.
Commercial Agreements and Reciprocal Loyalty Programs
The cooperation anticipates the implementation of codeshare agreements and reciprocal benefits across the frequent flyer programs of Avianca, GOL, and Etihad Airways. The formal rollout of these commercial initiatives is projected throughout 2026.
“This alliance reflects Abra’s strategy to capitalize on 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 integrate our brands and operations across network development, loyalty programs, and fleet cooperation.”
— Adrian Neuhauser, CEO of Abra Group
“Latin America is an increasingly important market for Etihad, and this partnership creates a strong platform to connect more travelers to Abu Dhabi and destinations across our growing global network. This alliance brings together two complementary airline groups to build stronger links between our regions.”
— Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad Airways
Next Steps
Both organizations will continue negotiating the terms of the definitive agreements. The implementation of each initiative remains subject to securing the relevant regulatory approvals, finalizing commercial contracts, and validating operational feasibility in each affected market.
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Un apasionado por la aviación, Fundador y CEO de Aviación al Día.