• The financing through Citibank and backed by ABGF supports shop visits for Avianca’s fleet of CFM56 engines performed at GE Aerospace’s Celma MRO shop

BOGOTÁ, Colombia, Sept. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Avianca -part of Abra Group along with Gol and Wamos-, GE Aerospace, and the Brazilian Agency for Management of Guarantee Funds and Guarantees (ABGF) today announced a financing agreement supporting maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services for Avianca’s CFM56 aircraft engines at GE Aerospace’s Celma MRO shop in Brazil

The financing includes up to US$300 million arranged through Citibank and supported by Export Credit Insurance (SCE) provided by ABGF, operator of the Brazilian export credit insurance program. The structure supports the export of high-value Brazilian services and marks the first time a non-Brazilian airline has secured financing under this framework for aircraft engine maintenance services.

“Maintaining a reliable and efficient fleet is fundamental to delivering the experience our customers deserve,” said Felipe Gutierrez, Chief Operating Officer of Avianca. “According to Abra Group’s approach to fleet synergies and growth, this agreement provides additional flexibility to execute our maintenance plans while continuing to invest in the resilience, reliability, and performance of our operation.”

“Supporting high-technology services performed in Brazil generates value, skilled employment and foreign exchange earnings for the country,” said Maíra Madrid, President of ABGF. “By supporting transactions such as this one, ABGF helps strengthen the international presence of Brazilian companies and contributes to expanding Brazil’s participation in global aerospace value chains.”

“This innovative financing solution, a first-of-its-kind with ABGF, provides Avianca with access to world-class maintenance and overhaul services at our Celma facility in Brazil,” said Mahendra Nair, Group VP of Global Commercial Sales at GE Aerospace. “We look forward to building on this initiative to deliver even greater value for our customers across the region.”

The agreement reinforces Brazil’s position as a regional hub for specialized aerospace services and highlights the country’s ability to serve international airlines through highly qualified talent, internationally certified facilities and advanced technical capabilities.

GE Aerospace’s Celma MRO facility in Brazil serves as the company’s main aircraft engine overhaul operation in Latin America. Close to 25% of GE Aerospace’s internal engine maintenance work worldwide is carried out by the Brazilian operation, across its five sites in the municipalities of Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro, and Três Rios.

About Avianca

Avianca, a Star Alliance member and part of Abra Group, encompasses Aerovías del Continente Americano S.A., Taca International Airlines S.A., Avianca Costa Rica S.A., Avianca Ecuador S.A., Aviateca S.A., Regional Express Américas S.A.S., LifeMiles, and Avianca Cargo. With more than 106 years of operations, Avianca comprises the leading airline group in Colombia, Ecuador, and Central America, and operates one of the largest air transportation networks in Latin America. Together, Avianca’s passenger operation and its dedicated cargo business, Avianca Cargo, operate a fleet of more than 160 aircraft. In passenger transportation, Avianca offers more than 160 routes, operates more than 700 daily flights, and connects more than 80 destinations across more than 25 countries in the Americas and Europe. In 2025, Avianca transported nearly 37 million customers through the operation of more than 262,000 flights. Its loyalty program, Lifemiles, is one of the largest in Latin America, with over 16 million members and more than 200 partner merchants. In cargo transportation, Avianca Cargo is the leading operator in various markets across the Americas, connecting over 350 destinations through its 220 weekly cargo flights, passenger flight network, and interline agreements. For more information, visit www.avianca.com. 

About Abra

Abra is a leading air transportation company across Latin America that brings together the iconic Avianca and GOL airline brands, along with a strategic investment in Wamos Air, on a unified, pan-Latin American platform. The Company also encompasses leading loyalty programs (LifeMiles and Smiles) and robust cargo operations.

Avianca, the second-oldest airline in the world, operates a fleet primarily comprised of A320 and B787 passenger aircraft, as well as cargo aircraft. GOL, one of Brazil’s leading airlines, operates a fleet largely composed of B737 passenger aircraft. Wamos Air is a leading European provider of wide-body Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance (ACMI) services, operating A330 passenger aircraft. Abra has approximately 30,000 employees and operates a fleet of more than 300 aircraft, with scheduled flights serving more than 25 countries and over 145 destinations. For more information, visit www.abragroup.net

About GE Aerospace

GE Aerospace is a global aerospace propulsion, services, and systems leader with an installed base of approximately 50,000 commercial and 30,000 military aircraft engines. With a global team of approximately 57,000 employees building on more than a century of innovation and learning, GE Aerospace is committed to inventing the future of flight, lifting people up, and bringing them home safely.  Learn more about how GE Aerospace and its partners are defining flight for today, tomorrow, and the future at www.geaerospace.com. 

About ABGF

The Brazilian Agency for Guarantee Funds and Guarantees (ABGF) is a federal public company responsible for managing guarantee funds and structuring guarantee instruments that support public policies and expand access to credit and investment in Brazil. Linked to the Ministry of Finance, ABGF manages Brazil’s Export Credit Insurance program (SCE) in partnership with the Ministry of Development, Industry, Foreign Trade and Services (MDIC) and works in cooperation with government entities, financial institutions, and private-sector stakeholders to reduce risks, strengthen strategic transactions, and promote Brazil’s economic and social development.

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SOURCE Avianca