Etihad Airways has welcomed the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) determination to reauthorize its alliance with Virgin Australia for a further five years.
The ruling will enable the airlines to continue their cooperative services on the Australia-Abu Dhabi route and beyond until Dec. 30, 2020.
Etihad Airways President and CEO James Hogan said the announcement was great news for the airlines and a real win for Australian travelers.
“In the first five years of the alliance, we’ve shaken up the competitive landscape by delivering more destinations, more capacity and an unrivalled guest experience through new, state-of-the-art aircraft and major investments in product and service innovations.
“We are two best-in-class airlines, working together to offer a superior level of comfort and service; like-minded brands committed to putting the air traveler first through innovation and a shared passion for excellence.
“Over the next five years, our focus will be on new areas of commercial cooperation with Virgin Australia and opportunities for increased public benefit.”
Hogan also expressed Etihad Airways gratitude to the stakeholders who had lodged submissions in favor of extending the alliance.
“Our business partners in Australia are critical to our success and I would like to thank them for their continuing support.”
Etihad Airways and Virgin Australia currently offer codeshare services to 38 international destinations in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Pakistan, and to 52 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.
Etihad Airways has a 25.1 percent stake in Virgin Australia Holdings (VAH) and holds a seat on the Virgin Australia board.
Etihad Airways welcomes ACCC’S ruling on Virgin Australia alliance
Etihad Airways welcomes ACCC’S ruling on Virgin Australia alliance
SVC invests $1.2bn and contributes to Kingdom’s pole position in VC funding
Saudi Venture Capital Company (SVC) released its annual “Impact Report,” which highlighted SVC’s role in the record growth rates achieved by the Saudi private capital ecosystem in 2025.
The report emphasized SVC’s impact on the Kingdom's private capital ecosystem (Venture Capital, Private Equity, Venture Debt, and Private Debt) since the company’s establishment in 2018.
The report showed that SVC's total committed investments since its inception have reached $1.2 billion, while its investments have stimulated partner commitments totaling $5.9 billion, or 4.9 times SVC’s commitment. This highlights SVC’s role as a key catalyst and market maker in the private capital ecosystem.
The report indicated that the number of funds backed by SVC increased to 65, while the number of startups and SMEs supported exceeded 1,000 across several vital sectors, including e-commerce, fintech, healthcare, education technologies, transport, and logistics.
Commenting on the report, Nora Alsarhan, Deputy CEO and Chief Investment Officer at SVC, said: “The report highlights the transformative progress happening across Saudi Arabia’s private capital ecosystem as a direct result of the initiatives and goals of the Saudi Vision 2030.”
She added: “We remain committed to developing investment programs, products, and developmental initiatives based on market needs analysis and aligned with leading global models, which enhance the competitiveness of the Saudi private capital ecosystem, support diversification of the national economy, and help achieve the goals of the Saudi Vision 2030.”
The report showed that SVC’s strategy contributed to the Kingdom’s maintaining its first rank in the MENA region for the third straight year in VC funding in 2025, reaching a historic total of $1.7 billion. This reflects the growth seen across various economic and financial sectors under Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to strengthen the national economy.
The report indicated that the number of venture capital investors has increased sixfold since SVC was founded in 2018, when the number did not exceed 34, reaching 200 in 2025. This reflects the depth of the market and the expansion of the institutional investor base in Saudi Arabia.
The report also highlighted the launch of the inaugural Private Capital Forum, a regional platform to advance dialogue on private capital. The forum brought together 1,070 participants and 59 speakers across 20 sessions, reaching 7.2 million people digitally and generating over 10.5 million media impressions.
