Etihad Airways’ equity stake in Virgin Australia Holdings has now reached 4.99 per cent, the Abu Dhabi-based airline has confirmed. The company remains interested in “building a larger stake over time”, Etihad said earlier, but will only do so after receiving the necessary regulatory approvals.

Etihad Guest, Etihad Airways’ loyalty program, will expand to become a multi-airline program later this month it has been confirmed. The new development will see Seychelles Plus, the Air Seychelles frequent flyer program, becoming fully integrated into Etihad Guest’s loyalty platform. Etihad Airways is considered the World’s Leading Airline by the World Travel Awards.

Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates, has started rolling out Sabre software, following the billion dollar technology agreement signed by the two companies last year. The implementation of Sabre’s catering software kicks off the largest technology project in the airline’s history, as it migrates all business operations to Sabre software, including rolling out Sabre’s passenger reservations software.

Etihad Airways has welcomed 18 Omani cadet pilots to its expanding flying program as part of a recently launched recruitment drive in Oman. The Etihad Airways cadet pilot program was launched in June 2007, in partnership with Horizon Flight Academy, and now boasts 161 cadets currently training to become fully qualified pilots.

Etihad Airways will gain better access to Kabul following the signing of a codeshare agreement with Afghanistan carrier Safi Airways. Under the deal, Etihad has placed its two-letter ‘EY’ code on the four weekly services which Safi Airways has operated between Abu Dhabi and the Afghan capital, Kabul, since February 2012.

Manchester City were not the only ones celebrating the climax of the Premier League season yesterday, with Eithad Airways also sharing in the plaudits after a £400 million sponsorship deal with the club last year. As the celebrations subside, Breaking Travel News here takes a look at some of the other momentous deals which have married the interests of sport to the travel sector.