Colombian airline Aerovias Del Continente Americano (Avianca) has signed a contract with global aircraft leasing company SMBC Aviation Capital for the purchase and leaseback of 11 airplanes.

The deal includes nine Airbus A320 NEO and two A321 NEO aircraft.

For the nine aircraft, pre-delivery payment (PDP) facilities will be partly provided by Sumitomo Mitsui Banking.

“This transaction is a further example of our ability to work hand-in-hand with other parts of our shareholder group to provide our customers with innovative and comprehensive financing solutions.”

Deliveries of the nine A320 NEO aircraft are expected to be completed by the next two years while the A321 NEO aircraft have already been delivered in the third and fourth quarter of this year.

All aircraft included in the deal will be powered by CFM International LEAP-1A engines.

SMBC Aviation Capital CEO Peter Barrett said: “This transaction is a further example of our ability to work hand-in-hand with other parts of our shareholder group to provide our customers with innovative and comprehensive financing solutions.”

With the new order, Avianca also aims to improve its operational efficiencies, upgrade customer experience and develop its fleet.

The airline currently serves 100 destinations in 26 countries across Latin America, North America and Europe.

Last month, SMBC Aviation Capital finalised a purchase and leaseback agreement with Mexican airlineAeromexico for ten Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.

The aircraft include a PDP facility and are expected to be delivered between 2018 and 2020.