Qatar Airways, the flag carrier of the country, will consider buying equity in IndiGo, if the Indian airline offers 49 per cent stake to it, said its chief executive officer.

"If IndiGo offers us 49 per cent, Qatar Airways would be extremely interested," Akbar Al Baker was quoted as saying in an Economic Times report.

He was speaking to the media on the sidelines of the unveiling of the new Airbus A350-900 in Doha yesterday (January 7).

He dismissed buying stake in SpiceJet or GoAir, commenting that Indigo was the only efficient carrier in India, according to the report.

Regarding the launch of Vistara and AirAsia services in India, he opined that the new airlines will need up to 10 years “deliver the potential India requires”.

Call for open sky policy

Al Baker also urged India to pursue an open sky policy, according to another report in Gulf Times.

“India is a sleeping economic super power. Unfortunately, its potential is not properly utilised,” he was quoted as saying in the report.

“Opening up the skies to foreign carriers and Indian carriers to go abroad will only increase the opportunities for Indian businesses, tourism and will result in creating many jobs,” he said.