AIRLINES

Australia Reaffirms Intent to Sell Airlines: The Australian government remains committed to the sale of its two airlines--international carrier Qantas Airways and domestic carrier Australian Airlines--despite opposition from within the ruling Labor Party, government officials said. Transport Minister Bob Collins denied that the impetus behind the sale of the airlines was a ballooning budget deficit or that the government wishes to include the expected $738 million in revenue from the sale in the Aug. 18 federal budget. Collins said a number of foreign airlines were “more than interested” in buying a stake in Qantas.