Qantas Airways Ltd. rebutted allegations by Australia’s competition regulator that the airline misled passengers by continuing to sell tickets on thousands of flights that it had already decided to cancel.

Launching its fight against the watchdog’s lawsuit, Qantas said Monday that the regulator’s case “ignores the realities of the aviation industry.” The airline didn’t delay telling passengers their flights has been canceled for commercial gain, and all customers on scrapped services were offered an alternative flight or refund, it said.