Doha: Qatar Airways is not interested in buying a stake in Indian budget carrier SpiceJet Ltd or any other Indian airline, its chief executive said, quashing media reports that the Gulf carrier was in talks for a potential investment.
Shares in SpiceJet Ltd rose by as much as 8.5 per cent on Tuesday after a newspaper reported the budget carrier was close to selling a stake to a foreign carrier, which it said was most likely to be Qatar Airways.
In a statement on Tuesday, CEO Akbar al-Baker denied it was involved in any discussions for a possible investment.
"Qatar Airways categorically denies it is interested in investing in SpiceJet or any other Indian airline," CEO Akbar al-Baker said in a statement.
"This is pure speculation by individuals who deliberately want to spread such unfounded rumours to raise the stock value of their entities."
16/01/13 Rueters/Daijiworld.com
