Paris: France’s economy minister says the government is selling a 49.9 per cent stake in the airport in Toulouse to a Chinese consortium looking to increase international air links in the south of France. The Toulouse-Blagnac airport is also home to Airbus, which tests some of its largest aircraft there. Economy minister Emmanuel Macron told La Depeche newspaper in an interview published Friday that the €308-million (Dh1.4 billion, $381 million) stake went to the Symbiose consortium, which includes an aircraft leasing company already among Airbus’ clients. He said the airport itself — runway and buildings — would remain state property.