Qantas (QF, Sydney Kingsford Smith (SYD)) and partner, Emirates (EK, Dubai International (DXB)), have been granted approval by the New Zealand government to jointly operate Australia - New Zealand routes over the next five years. However, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), who consented to the deal two months ago, have imposed conditions on Qantas and Emirates in which they must "maintain their current level of capacity on trans-Tasman routes." Meanwhile, Virgin Australia (VA, Brisbane International (BNE)) and Air New Zealand (NZ, Auckland International (AKL)), are currently seeking approval for an extension of their alliance on the trans-Tasman route with a decision from the New Zealand regulator expected by September this year. Both Virgin and Air New Zealand had raised concerns over the Qantas-Emirates tie up, suggesting any conditions imposed on specific routes "have the potential to create harmful market conditions". New Zealand’s transport minister, Gerry Brownlee, disputed this saying "trans-Tasman competition will be maintained through existing carriers and the threat of entry by new carriers."

Skywest Airlines (Australia) (XR, Perth International (PER)) has been renamed to Virgin Australia Regional (XR, Perth International (PER)), concluding the acquisition and absorption of the Australian domestic operator into the Virgin Group. As of May 7, Skywest will carry the Virgin Australia (VA, Brisbane International (BNE)) name, with airports and aircraft to be progressively rebranded over the coming months. Virgin Atlantic (VS, London Heathrow (LHR)) founder, Richard Branson, was on hand in Perth International (PER) on May 7 to officially launch the regional arm of his airline, which will operate 800 flights a week to 41 destinations across regional Australia.

Singapore Airlines (SQ, Singapore Changi International (SIN)) is set to become the second largest shareholder in Virgin Australia (VA, Brisbane International (BNE)) after it announced plans to acquire another 9.9% stake in Australia’s second largest airline grouping, thereby taking its total holding to 19.9%. Under the deal, which is still subject to Australia's Foreign Investment Review Board approval, Singapore Airlines will purchase 255.5 million Virgin Australia Holdings shares for AUD 122.6million from Richard Branson’s Virgin Group, whose own stake in the airline will fall to 17%. The deal is part of a complex arrangement that has seen Virgin Australia move to take a controlling 60% stake in Tiger Airways Australia (TT, Melbourne Tullamarine International (MEL)). Etihad Airways (EY, Abu Dhabi International (AUH)) is the airline's third largest shareholder with a 9% stake with Air New Zealand (NZ, Auckland International (AKL)) 19.99% becoming the largest shareholder with 19.9%

Virgin Australia (VA, Brisbane International (BNE)) says it welcomes the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission's (ACCC) decision not to oppose its proposed acquisition of a 60% stake in Tiger Airways Australia (TT, Melbourne Tullamarine International (MEL)). Virgin says the "proposed transaction will enable Virgin Australia to better serve budget travellers and expedite Tiger Australia’s growth, with Tiger Airways and Virgin Australia committing to invest up to a further AUD62.5 million collectively into the business." However, the proposed tie-up is not out of the woods just yet as it is still subject to certain conditions and regulatory approvals, including from the Australian Foreign Investment Review Board.

Virgin Atlantic (VS, London Heathrow (LHR)) founder and magnate, Richard Branson, has revealed that his group is now actively considering launching an Indian subsidiary using the carrier’s Australia, Virgin Australia (VA, Brisbane International (BNE)), and US, Virgin America (VX, San Francisco International (SFO)), operations as a model. The move comes after in 2012, the Indian government revised legislation permitting foreign airlines to hold up to 49% equity in Indian carriers except for Air India (AI, Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji International (BOM)). Speaking to Indian news outlet Livemint, Branson said that in light of the recent launch of Virgin Atlantic flights from London Heathrow (LHR) to Delhi Indira Gandhi International (DEL) and Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji International (BOM), Virgin viewed the Indian market as having great potential, but would not go the classic LCC route, rather offering “a low-cost airline albeit with a good quality business class” product too.