July 1 (Reuters) - Avianca Group plans to confidentially

file for an initial public offering in the United States, the

holding company for the Colombian airline said on Monday.

The airline is moving ahead with its listing more than two

years after it emerged from bankruptcy.

Bogota-based Avianca was one of the major Latin American

airlines that filed for bankruptcy during the pandemic, hurt by

a downturn in travel demand.

The airline, which had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in

May 2020 after it failed to meet a bond payment deadline, exited

bankruptcy proceedings in December 2021.

The timing and execution of the offering are subject to

market conditions, the airline said.

Avianca's total operating revenue came in at $1.27 billion

in the first quarter, up from $1.09 billion a year earlier.

The airline also swung to a profit of $13 million in the

same period, compared to a loss of $12 million in 2022.

Avianca's fleet comprised of 128 Airbus 320 family aircraft

and 13 Boeing 787s as of March end.

The company is the latest Latin American airline seeking to

tap into the deeper capital and richer valuations that the U.S.

markets offer.

Earlier this year, Mexico City-based Aeroméxico also filed

its paperwork to go public in New York as it eyes a return to

stock markets.

Chile's LATAM Airlines is also working on re-listing its

shares on the New York Stock Exchange.