VENTURE CAPITAL POST

Air New Zealand has joined hands with Virgin Australia to scrutinise options for internally manufactured aviation biofuel. The move mirrors airlines' effort to reduce aviation impact on global warming.

Australian airlines Qantas Airways Ltd and Virgin Australia Holdings Ltd said passengers can use smartphones and tablets throughout flights from Tuesday after a regulator relaxed a ban on electronic devices on planes.

Virgin Australia's biggest shareholders, Air New Zealand, Etihad Airways, and Singapore Airlines, have upped their stakes in the troubled Australian airline by 4%, lifting their combined position from 63% to 67%.

Abu Dhabi based airline Etihad purchased Virgin Australia shares on the Australian bourse as a means to increase its shareholdings in the Australian airline.