Qatar Airways, flydubai Reject Spicejet Report

Qatar Airways and flydubai have separately rejected reports of interest in buying a stake in India's SpiceJet.

"Qatar Airways is not in talks to pursue a commercial stake in SpiceJet," Qatar Airways said in a statement, following a report in India's Economic Times that the Indian carrier was in talks to sell a stake.

"These stake sale comments are unfounded and are believed to be deliberately spread to influence share valuations," Qatar added.

Dubai budget carrier flydubai also denied media reports, saying it is not in talks with SpiceJet.

SpiceJet on Friday said it was in "exploratory and preliminary stage" talks with potential investors who have shown an interest in putting money into the airline.

It did not say who the potential investors were.

Qatar Airways is catching up with rivals Emirates and Etihad in terms of frequency of service to the Indian market. It remains interested in India's biggest airline IndiGo for a stake purchase, the only airline it is in talks with, Qatar Airways said in the statement.

India's InterGlobe Aviation, which operates IndiGo, on Tuesday filed a draft prospectus for an initial public offering to list on the domestic stock market.