Etihad Airways has become the latest airline to suspended flights Damascus due to the deteriorating security position in Syria. The flights, which had operated out of the UAE flag-carrier’s base in Abu Dhabi will be halted with immediate effect and until further notice.

Abu Dhabi based airline Etihad Airways is expanding its codeshare partnership with Italy’s flag carrier Alitalia. Subject to government approvals, from December 1st, Alitalia will operate the four weekly flights between Abu Dhabi and Rome using an Airbus A330 aircraft.

Etihad Airways has confirmed it would be “happy” to discuss the acquisition of the stake presently held by Ryanair in Irish flag-carrier Aer Lingus. Abu Dhabi-based Etihad took a 2.987 per cent stake in Aer Lingus in April.

Etihad Airways has signed a new multi-million dollar agreement to extend to 2019 its naming and marketing rights for Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium, the city’s premier sports and entertainment venue. The five-year extension was announced in Melbourne by James Hogan, chief executive of Etihad Airways, and Ian Collins, chief executive of Melbourne Stadiums, the company that operates Etihad Stadium.

Etihad Airways and Aer Lingus have signed an interline and codeshare agreement which follows the UAE national airline’s recent 2.987 per cent equity purchase in the Irish air carrier. Within the agreement Etihad Airways will place its “EY” code on Aer Lingus flights between Dublin, Manchester and London Heathrow, and destinations in Ireland, the UK, the Channel Islands, Portugal, the Netherlands and the US.

Etihad Airways has welcomed the decision by the Australian government to allow the airline to increase its equity stake in Virgin Australia to a maximum of ten per cent. London currently has a 4.99 per cent stake in Virgin Australia, acquired earlier this year, and had applied to the Foreign Investment Review Board to raise the level of its investment.