Treated 'unfairly' in India; interested in IndiGo stake: Qatar Airways

Hyderabad: Alleging that Indian authorities treated it "unfairly" vis-a vs other Gulf carriers, Qatar Airways on March 16 said it remains interested in buying stake in IndiGo despite losing out on an opportunity to participate in the budget carrier's IPO last year.

Qatar Airways Group CEO Akbar Al Baker told reporters here that the airline "could not invest in IndiGo IPO due to government's role". Al Baker said the time was "short for Qatar sovereign funds to invest in IndiGo IPO", but it would be very much interested to buy a stake in the Gurgaon-based carrier "even now."

Doha-based Qatar -- one of the three Gulf carriers operating to India with Emirates and Etihad being the other two -- had several times in the past evinced interest in buying stake in IndiGo. "Qatar is unfairly treated by Indian authorities" despite the fact that Qatar is the largest supplier of natural gas and fertiliser to India, he said.

Qatar Government raised "unfair treatment" issue (with the Indian Government) many times, Al bker said, while adding that "there is never a balance in air traffic rights." He also criticised the government's proposal to auction additional bilaterals and termed such a move as "ill-conceived."