Etihad Airways has confirmed its equity stake in Virgin Australia Holdings has now reached ten per cent.

This represents 221 million shares which have been bought on the open market over recent months.

Six weeks ago Etihad Airways received Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) approval to increase its holding from five per cent to ten per cent.

Etihad Airways chief executive, James Hogan, said: “We are very pleased to have reached this threshold.

“We support the management strategy of Virgin Australia and will continue to work closely with them on ways to improve our business.”

Hogan again reiterated that Etihad Airways wasn’t interested in becoming a majority shareholder or taking control of Virgin Australia.

“Our small equity stake reflects the strong working relationship of both airlines and again demonstrates our enduring commitment to the Australian market,” he explained.

Etihad Airways and Virgin Australia have developed a highly successful, multi-tiered partnership that includes code-sharing on flights, joint marketing initiatives and reciprocal earn-and-burn on their respective frequent flier programs.

Hogan said he was confident the equity stake would lead to more revenue generating opportunities.

“This further cements our commercial partnership as we continue to explore areas of even closer co-operation such as operational synergies, shared IT infrastructure and other forms of cost sharing efficiency,” he added.

Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways is considered the World’s Leading Airline by the World Travel Awards.