SpiceJet in talks with certain investors

Company's Chief Operating Officer said a few investors had evinced interest in the company and, besides, the promoters were pumping in money into the airline

No-frills airline SpiceJet today said it has sought regulatory approvals for operating 7,000 seats a week to Qatar and talks were on with certain investors who had evinced interest in investing in it.

"We have been in discussions (with investors) and.... when the time is right we will take a decision," SpiceJet's Chief Operating Officer Sanjiv Kapoor told a press conference here while refusing to elaborate.

He said a few investors had evinced interest in the company and, besides, the promoters were pumping in money into the airline. SpiceJet recently posted a loss of over Rs 1,000 crore for fiscal 2014.

Kapoor also termed as "completely baseless" reports that the Indian carrier was selling some of its slots to Qatar Airways or any other airline.

SpiceJet sent a statement to the Bombay Stock Exchange, saying it "denies having any discussion with Qatar Airways for the sale of overseas slots, as reported. We also confirm that there is no truth whatsoever in the scheduling of a meeting to discuss investment plans with Qatar Airways."

Kapoor said the Kalanithi Maran-promoted airline has applied to DGCA for allowing rights to fly 7,000 seats a week to Qatari capital of Doha. The airline currently flies to Dubai, Sharjah and Muscat in the Gulf.

Replying to questions on international operations, he said SpiceJet was considering to fly to Dhaka soon and was likely to add more flights to Dubai when repair works being carried out on the runways there were over.

He said it was also mulling adding frequencies to Kabul and resuming flights to Bangkok when the political situation improves there.

"Down the road, flights are also being considered for Hong Kong but we will review that again," Kapoor said, adding that increasing frequency of flights in the domestic market over the next few months was also on the anvil. He, however, did not give any further details.