An official suggested selling Air France stock.

The French state airline could be partially opened up to private shareholders as one way of financing a renewal of its fleet without making demands on public money, a top French official said. Transport Minister Jacques Douffiagues told reporters at the Le Bourget air show that he was preparing to suggest to the airline that a portion of its capital should be floated to the public. “It would be a question of allowing French people to become partial shareholders in this prestigious company.” But he added that “there is no question of a wholesale privatization. Air France will remain a state airline.”