Abra Group
| Type | Private Limited Company |
|---|---|
| Abra Group | |
| Industry | Air transport |
| Founded | 18 February 2022 |
| Headquarters | St Albans, England (Registered office) |
Number of locations | |
Key people | Constantino de Oliveira Junior (Chairman) Adrian Neuhauser (CEO) |
| Products |
|
| Revenue | |
Number of employees | +30,000 (2025) |
| Subsidiaries |
|
| Website | www |
| Footnotes Fleet size: +325 (2025) [1] Destinations: +145 (2025) Carried passengers: +71 million (2025) Loyalty members: +46 million (2025) | |
Abra Group is a Latin American multinational air transport holding company headquartered in St Albans, England. As of 31 December 2025, it is the second largest airline group in Latin America after LATAM Airlines Group with more than US$9.7 billion in revenue, 30,000 employees, 71 million passengers carried on 325 aircraft to 145 destinations, and 46 million loyalty members.[2] It has subsidiaries in Brazil, Colombia, Spain, Chile, Mexico, El Salvador, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Honduras.
Members of Abra Group include Colombia's flag carrier Avianca, Brazil's GOL[3][4][5] and Spain's Wamos[6]. It has some of the lowest unit costs in its respective markets[citation needed] and operates loyalty programs such as LifeMiles and Smiles. Avianca, the second oldest airline in the world, operates more than 140 Airbus A320 and Boeing 787 passenger aircraft as well as seven Airbus A330 freighters, and has more than 14,000 employees. GOL is one of Brazil's largest airlines, operating a standardized fleet of 138 Boeing 737 aircraft, and has 13,900 staff. Spain-based Wamos Air specialises in widebody ACMI operations, operating 13 Airbus A330 passenger aircraft.[7]
In November 2025,[8] Abra announced the incorporation of the SKY Airline into the group, which operates 36 aircraft in the Chilean and Peruvian markets. The announcement was made after the conversion of existing debt and the agreement for the acquisition of the Paulamnn family's stake in the airline. As of June 5, 2026,[9] the transaction has already received authorization from Brazilian and Chilean authorities, and is pending the green light from the Peruvian side.
Foundation and early years
[edit]Abra Group was announced on 11 May 2022, when the main shareholders of Avianca and the controlling shareholder of GOL entered into an agreement to create a Latin American air transportation holding company called Abra Group Limited. The objective of the strategy was to control both Avianca and GOL and bring their brands together under a single group, leveraging operational, financial, and route network synergies, without merging the brands or the operations of the two airlines.[10][11]
At the time of the announcement, the group also planned to include economic interests in Viva Air Colombia and Viva Air Perú, and a minority investment, through convertible debt, in Chilean carrier Sky Airline. However, the agreement between Avianca and Viva Air was eventually terminated in 2023, following regulatory hurdles and the financial crisis faced by the Colombian low-cost carrier, which suspended its operations before the merger could be completed.[12][13]
The initial leadership of Abra Group included Roberto Kriete as chairman, one of the founding figures of TACA International Airlines and Avianca Holdings, and Constantino de Oliveira Júnior, founder of GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes, as chief executive officer (CEO). The group's registered headquarters were established in the United Kingdom, with an operational and strategic focus across Latin America.[14]
Acquisition of Wamos Air
[edit]In January 2024, Abra Group announced the start of negotiations for the acquisition of Wamos Air, a Spanish airline specialized in wet-lease (aircraft leasing with crew) and charter flights. The transaction was part of the Group's international expansion strategy, focusing on strengthening its presence in Europe and increasing its wide-body aircraft offering for long-haul operations.[15]
During the evaluation process, Abra Group highlighted Wamos Air's strategic role in the ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance) market — a segment that had been experiencing strong demand following the post-pandemic recovery of air transport. The Spanish airline operated a fleet composed mainly of Airbus A330 aircraft, serving major carriers in Europe, the Americas and the Middle East.[16]
In July 2024, Abra Group signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Airbus for the acquisition of five Airbus A350-900 aircraft. The wide-body, long-range model was chosen to expand the group's intercontinental connectivity, enabling new routes between South America and Europe.[17] The MoU announcement explicitly highlighted that the Abra Group was also making a strategic investment in Wamos Air, thereby associating the A350-900 order with the Spanish wet-lease and charter operator and its planned integration into the group’s fleet structure.[18]
In October 2024, Abra Group completed the acquisition of Wamos Air.[19][20] The airline retained its brand and independent operations, while being operationally integrated into the Abra Group to provide flexibility in ACMI contracts and serve both the group's airline needs and those of third parties.[21]
Regional expansion plans
[edit]Acquisition of Sky Airline
[edit]In 2021, Sky Airline issued a convertible debt instrument, valued at approximately US$70–100 million, as part of its post‑pandemic financing strategy. Abra Group acquired (or later assumed) this debt, with an option to convert it into an equity stake of up to 40–41% of SKY Airline. Despite the investment, the majority shareholders of SKY, the Paulmann Mast family, retained control of the company and its independent operations.[22]
In May 2023, the CEO of GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes stated that SKY might eventually join Abra Group, signalling that negotiations were underway.[23]
NG Servicios Aéreos
[edit]In October 2025, amid reports of potential pressure on SKY Airline shareholders to either sell the airline entirely or convert debt into an equity stake, Abra Group filed an application with the Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil (DGAC) of Chile for an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) for NG Servicios Aéreos, a company focused on non‑scheduled operations, including charter and ACMI flights, based in Santiago de Chile.[24]
Subsequently, photos on social media showed the airline's first aircraft, a Boeing 737‑800 from GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes, with the Chilean aeronautical registration CC-DNU and the phrase "Operated by NG Servicios Aéreos" on the fuselage, in the maintenance hangar of the Brazilian airline in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. The establishment of the Chilean airline was interpreted as a strategic move by Abra Group to establish an operational base in Chile, while simultaneously applying leverage in ongoing negotiations with SKY regarding a potential integration into the group.[25]
In November 2025,[8] Abra announced the incorporation of SKY Airline. The announcement was made afte the conversion of existing debt and the agreement for the acquisition of the Paulmann family's stake in the airline. As of June 5, 2026,[9] the transaction has already received authorization from Brazilian and Chilean authorities, and is pending the green light from the Peruvian side. The acquisition will give Abra a stronger presence in the Chilean and Perivuan markets.
On July 21, 2026, the Abra Group announced the purchase of 20 Embraer E-195 E2 aircraft for its subsidiaries. Another 35 are purchase rights (10) and purchase intentions (15). The idea is to expand the regional network in various locations where the holding company operates. [26]
Subsidiaries
[edit]Current
[edit]- Avianca Colombia
- Helicol-PAS
- Avianca Express
- Avianca Services
- Deprisa
- LifeMiles (formerly Avianca Plus and TACA Distancia)
- Avianca Cargo (formerly Tampa Cargo)
- Avianca Costa Rica (formerly Lacsa)
- Avianca Ecuador (formerly AeroGal-VIP)
- Avianca El Salvador (formerly TACA Airlines)
- Avianca Guatemala (formerly Aviateca)
- Avianca Honduras (formerly Isleña)
- GOL
- NG Servicios Aéreos
- Smiles
- Golog
- VARIG (brand owner)
- Wamos (formerly Pullmantur Air)
- Sky
- Sky Chile
- Sky Perú
- Sky Ecuador
Fleet
[edit]As of July 2026[update], the fleet of Abra Group is composed of aircraft from the manufacturers Airbus and Boeing, reflecting the combined operations of the group's two main airlines, GOL and Avianca. The fleet primarily includes narrow-body aircraft, such as the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737, used on domestic and regional routes, as well as wide-body aircraft for medium and long-haul flights, such as the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
| Aircraft | In service | Orders | Passengers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A319-100 | 8 | — | 144 | Operated by Avianca 50 A320neo were ordered by the Abra Group[27] |
| Airbus A320-200 | 79 | — | 180 | |
| Airbus A320neo | 48 | 40[28] | 180 | |
| 50[29] | ||||
| Airbus A330-200 | 5 | — | 280 | Operated by Wamos Air |
| Airbus A330-300 | 8 | — | 408 | |
| Airbus A330-900 | — | 7[30] | TBA | Leased from Avolon[31][32] Five aircraft expected to be delivered to GOL while another two to Avianca[30] |
| Airbus A350-900 | — | 5[33] | TBA | Ordered by the Abra Group[34] Expected to be delivered to Wamos Air[citation needed] |
| Boeing 737-700 | 12 | — | 138 | Operated by GOL |
| Boeing 737-800 | 64 | — | 186 | |
| Boeing 737 MAX 8 | 58 | 45 | 186 | |
| Boeing 737 MAX 10 | — | 30 | TBA | |
| Boeing 787-8 | 16 | — | 291 | Operated by Avianca |
| Embraer E195-E2 | — | 45 | TBA | They will be redistributed to the holding company's businesses. They are expected to arrive by the third quarter of 2027. |
| Cargo fleet | ||||
| Airbus A330-200F | 6 | — | Cargo | Operated by Avianca Cargo |
| Airbus A330-200P2F | 1 | 1 | ||
| Airbus A330-300P2F | 2 | 2 | ||
| Boeing 737-800BCF | 9 | — | Operated by GOLLOG | |
| Total | 316 | 178 | ||
References
[edit]- ↑ fatos e números Archived 2 April 2013 at the Wayback Machine Pagina oficial da Star Alliance, Julho 2012
- ↑ "Performance Presentation - Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025" (PDF). Abra Group. 1 March 2026. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
- ↑ "Gol, Avianca nod to airline consolidation with pan-Latin American deal". Reuters. 11 May 2022. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
- ↑ "Brazil airline Gol and Colombia's Avianca to create holding company Abra Group". CNBC. 11 May 2022. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
- ↑ "Avianca Airlines, GOL to merge under single holding". ch-aviation. 11 May 2022. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
- ↑ "Avianca Parent Abra Group Completes Wamos Air Buy". Aviation Week Network. 17 October 2024. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
- ↑ "Wamos Air reshuffles its board after joining Avianca's parent company". 20minutos.es.
- 1 2 S.A.S, Editorial La República (10 November 2025). "Abra y SKY Airline llegaron a acuerdo para sumar aerolínea chilena al grupo aéreo". Diario La República (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 July 2026.
- 1 2 Vivanco, Claudia Guzmán (7 June 2026). "Grupo Abra recibe aval en Chile para tomar el control de SKY Airline". Forbes Colombia (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 July 2026.
- ↑ "Principal Shareholders of Avianca and Controlling Shareholder of GOL to Create Abra Group, a Leading Air Transportation Group Across Latin America". Avianca. Avianca Holdings. 11 May 2022. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
- ↑ "Brazil airline Gol and Colombia's Avianca to create holding company Abra Group". CNBC. 11 May 2022. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
- ↑ "Colombia's Avianca backs down from Viva Air merger". Reuters. 13 May 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
- ↑ "Thousands stranded as Colombia's Viva Air grounds flights". Associated Press. 28 February 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
- ↑ "Principal Shareholders of Avianca and Controlling Shareholder of GOL to create Abra Group, a Leading Air Transportation Group Across Latin America". Avianca. Avianca Holdings. 11 May 2022. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
- ↑ Ros, Miquel (13 May 2024). "Abra Group, Avianca's parent company, buys stake in Spanish carrier Wamos Air". AeroTime. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
- ↑ "Wamos Air officially joins Abra Group, strengthening presence in Europe and the Americas". Aviacionline. 16 October 2024. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
- ↑ "Abra Group (majority investor of Avianca and Gol) signs MoU for five A350-900s". Airbus. 25 July 2024. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
- ↑ Mazó, Edgardo Gimenez (25 July 2024). "A bet for Wamos? Abra Group goes for five Airbus A350-900". Aviacionline. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
- ↑ Wolfsteller, Pilar (16 October 2024). "Abra closes acquisition of Wamos Air". FlightGlobal. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
- ↑ Garbuno, Daniel Martinez (17 October 2024). "Abra Group closes acquisition of stake in Spain's Wamos Air". ch‑aviation. ch‑aviation GmbH. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
- ↑ "Wamos Air Joins Abra Group Bolstering Connectivity Between Latin America and Europe" (PDF). Abra Group. Abra Group. 16 October 2024. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
- ↑ Diaz, Pablo (8 July 2025). "SKY Airline y Grupo Abra inician negociaciones formales por una deuda de 100 millones de dólares". Aviacionline (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 November 2025.
- ↑ "SKY nears incorporation into Abra Holding, GOL CEO says". Aviacionline. 20 May 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
- ↑ Meier, Ricardo (13 October 2025). "GOL Chile? Boeing 737 in GOL colours surfaces with Chilean registration". Air Data News. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
- ↑ Garretón, Martín (29 October 2025). "Grupo Abra: el holding de aerolíneas que aterrizó en Chile y que buscaría tomar el control de SKY". Emol (in Spanish). El Mercurio. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
- ↑ Mateus Santana (21 July 2026). "Controladora da Gol Linhas aéreas anuncia compra de até 45 jatos Embraer". AEROIN (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 21 July 2026.
- ↑ "Abra Group discloses order for 50 A320neo Family aircraft and five A350‑900". Airbus. Airbus. 16 October 2025. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
- ↑ Airbus Orders and Deliveries (XLS), monthly updated, accessed via "Orders & deliveries". Airbus. Airbus SAS. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- ↑ "Abra Group Orders Additional Airbus A320neo and Leases A330‑900 Aircraft". Air Data News. 16 October 2025. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
- 1 2 Daniel Martinez Garbuno (6 March 2026). "Brazil's GOL to take five A330-900Ns, avianca - two". Ch-aviation.com.
- ↑ "Brazil's Gol enters lease agreement with Avolon Aerospace for five Airbus A330‑900neo aircraft". Reuters. 16 October 2025. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
- ↑ "Gol Signs Lease for 5 Airbus A330‑900 Jets for Delivery in 2026". Bloomberg Law. Bloomberg L.P. 16 October 2025. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
- ↑ "Abra Group (majority investor of Avianca and GOL) signs MOU for five A350-900s". Airbus Newsroom. Airbus. 25 July 2024. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
- ↑ Flottau, Jens (25 July 2024). "Abra Group Signs Up For Five Airbus A350s". Aviation Week Network. Retrieved 1 November 2025.