Etihad increases stake in Virgin Aust Etihad Airways has increased its stake in Virgin Australia, surpassing Richard Branson's Virgin Group as the airline's third largest shareholder. Abu Dhabi-based Etihad paid $11.8 million for 27.4 million Virgin Australia shares in several transactions in the past week, a notice to the ASX shows. That takes its stake in Virgin Australia from 12.3 per cent to 13.4 per cent, above Virgin Group's stake of about 12.5 per cent. Air New Zealand is the local airline's largest shareholder, recently taking its stake to 22.99 per cent. Singapore Airlines holds 19.9 per cent of Virgin Australia's shares.