Etihad Airways (EY, Abu Dhabi International) has increased its shareholding in Virgin Australia (VA, Brisbane International) from 24.2% to 25.1% CAPA has reported. The move leaves Air New Zealand (NZ, Auckland International) with a 24.99% shareholding followed by Singapore Airlines (SQ, Singapore Changi) with 22.91%. Virgin Group holds 10% while the remainder is on free float.

The announcement follows the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) recent decision to reauthorise the Emirati carrier's alliance with Virgin Australia for a further five years.

Etihad Airways and Virgin Australia currently offer codeshare services to thirty-eight destinations in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Pakistan, and to fifty-two destinations in Australia and Asia.

They also cooperate extensively in the areas of sales and marketing; purchasing and procurement; flight and cabin crew secondments; and offer reciprocal benefits to their frequent flyers including access to airport lounges across their combined networks.