Australia Takes First Step to Foreign Investment in Qantas
Qantas has decided to defer delivery of the last eight of an order for 20 Airbus A380s. (Photo: Qantas)
Qantas has decided to defer delivery of the last eight of an order for 20 Airbus A380s. (Photo: Qantas)

Plans by Australian flagcarrier Qantas to cut 5,000 jobs and curb its fleet expansion in response to record losses appear to have spurred the country's politicians to act on long-standing demands to reform rules governing ownership of the struggling airline. The Qantas Sale Amendment Bill, which serves to repeal part of the Qantas Act and effectively removes restrictions on foreign ownership and stipulations affecting Qantas’ business operations, passed in the Lower House of the Australian parliament on Thursday by a vote of 83 to 53. But the reforms still face futher political obstacles.