Colombia's Avianca may finalise partnership with United Continental this year - CE

Avianca Holdings expects to finalise a partnership with United Continental Holdings in 2017, although board and regulatory approvals could delay finalisation of the deal by up to a year, the airline's CE, Hernan Rincon, said Tuesday. The strategic commercial partnership, about which the airlines have offered few details, faces a legal challenge in New York from Avianca's No.2 shareholder, Kingsland Holdings. Kingsland has sought to halt talks between the airlines until shareholders vote on whether to appoint an auditor to examine transactions between Avianca and its controlling shareholder, Synergy Group. Avianca expects a favourable ruling on the case next month, Rincon said, adding, "our plan is to try and close the deal this year." <br/>