SAO PAULO, May 28 (Reuters) - Brazilian airline Gol

said on Tuesday its parent company Abra Group has

started talks with airline Azul ( AZUL ) to "explore

opportunities," following media reports earlier this year that

pointed to a potential merger.

A possible agreement between Abra Group, a Latin American

airline holding company, and Azul ( AZUL ) "would not be binding for

Gol," it added in a securities filing but without going into

further detail.

Abra Group was formed in 2022 to combine Brazilian carrier

Gol and Colombia's Avianca under a common holding company

jointly controlled by the main shareholders of both firms. Abra

Group is Gol's largest secured creditor, according to the

securities filing.

Last week, Gol and Azul ( AZUL ) announced a codeshare agreement

connecting their networks and frequent flyer programs, a move

that reignited speculation about a potential merger between both

Brazilian airlines.

Earlier this year, Gol filed for bankruptcy protection

in the United States while Azul ( AZUL ) denied negotiations over any

deal with Gol.