**A Strategic MoU Signed in Rio** On June 7, 2026, Air Canada and Abra Group—the parent company of Avianca and GOL—signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Rio de Janeiro that outlines a long-term partnership designed to reshape connectivity between Canada, Central America, and South America. The agreement, which includes revenue sharing and a joint venture on select routes, still needs to be converted into definitive contracts and approved by regulators on both continents. **Unlocking the Americas** Mark Galardo, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Air Canada, described the MoU as a lever to strengthen the carrier's presence in Latin America—a region he called "a fast-growing and strategic component" of Air Canada's international network. Angus Clarke, Chief Commercial Officer of Abra, echoed this sentiment, stating that the partnership aims to "redefine connectivity across the Americas and beyond" by building integrated, seamless networks that bring people, cultures, and economies closer together. **What It Means for Routes and Operations** At the heart of the project is improved connectivity between Air Canada's Canadian hubs (Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver) and the main Latin American markets served by Avianca and GOL. The two groups plan to expand and rationalize codeshare agreements, coordinate commercial policies, and work toward a joint venture on strategic Canada–Latin America routes. If approved, this joint venture would allow joint network planning, optimized schedules, and revenue sharing—similar to existing joint ventures Air Canada has with transatlantic and transpacific partners. **Passenger Experience and Loyalty Integration** For passengers, the partnership promises a more seamless experience across both networks. This includes coordinated airport services, smoother connections, aligned baggage policies, and better management of irregular operations (IRROPs). The loyalty programs—Aeroplan, LifeMiles (Avianca), and Smiles (GOL)—are expected to become more integrated, offering greater opportunities to earn and redeem points across all carriers. **Cargo Cooperation** The MoU also covers cargo operations. Air Canada Cargo and Abra's freight activities plan to deepen cooperation to capture growing commercial flows between Canada and Latin America. Air Canada already operates a global cargo network using passenger aircraft and freighters, while Abra's fleet of over 300 aircraft serves more than 145 destinations, providing fine-grained coverage of Colombian, Brazilian, and regional markets. **Air Canada's Latin American Expansion** This partnership comes as Air Canada has been aggressively expanding into Latin America. The airline has resumed flights to Lima from Montreal and Toronto, strengthened services to Santiago and Rio de Janeiro, and added new routes to Belize, Puerto Escondido, and Tepic. For the 2025–2026 winter season, Air Canada offered over 80,000 weekly seats to 52 destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean, with more than 55 daily flights—its largest "sun" offering ever.