Qatar Airways denies SpiceJet deal talks

Hints possibility of investments after regulations and laws are properly liberalised

Qatar Airways has denied it is in talks with SpiceJet to acquire stake in the low cost airline.  

“Qatar Airways categorically denies it is interested in investing in SpiceJet or any other Indian airline. This is pure speculation by individuals who deliberately want to spread such unfounded rumours to raise the stock value of their entities," the airline's chief executive officer Akbar Al Baker said in a statement.

“India is a huge market and a potentially lucrative one. While we have expressed interest in expanding our presence in India, we will only be interested in any potential investment once we are sure regulations and laws are properly liberalised. I can confirm we are currently not talking to any Indian airline,'' he added.

Baker was reacting to a media report which said Qatar Airways may invest in SpiceJet. 

It may be noted, on Tuesday SpiceJet stock prices rose by 5% after some of the financial daily reported Qatar Airways may buy stake in SpiceJet.The company has been subjected to several reports in the media with regard to possible equity infusion in the recent past and we would like to reiterate that these are speculative media reporting".

"Though few investors have evinced interest in the company post Government of India allowing FDI in civil aviation sector to foreign airlines, it will be very pre-mature to comment on the possibilities of any fresh equity issuance to such interested parties or confirm/deny names of any specific entity," SpiceJet said in a statement.