Avianca and Viva request merger authorisation from Colombian authority

Colombian airline company Avianca and Viva have lodged a request with the Civil Aeronautics of Colombia to integrate the two companies. In April last year, stakeholders of the two companies signed an agreement to become part of the same business group. According to the agreement, all the economic rights of Viva in Colombia and Peru were acquired without this implying control or administration. A month later, Avianca and Gol reached an agreement to create Grupo Abra, which according to the companies, would create one of the leaders in air transportation in Latin America. Avianca said that its stakeholders have also identified Viva’s complex financial situation and have requested the Civil Aeronautics Authority to approve the integration with Viva under the legal figure of ‘company in crisis’. The move was made with an intent to safeguard connectivity, protect the air transport service offer and rescue the company.<br/>