GoAir CEO denies merger talks with SpiceJet

Go Airlines (India) Pvt. Ltd., a low-cost carrier, is not in merger talks with SpiceJet Ltd., CEO Edgardo Badiali said. A recent report in a business daily said that GoAir was in talks to merge with or to sell a stake to Spicejet. "No. Not in my knowledge, in any case," Badiali told reporters at a news conference, when asked if there were talks between the two budget carriers for a merger. GoAir is part of the Wadia group, which includes textile firm Bombay Dyeing and India's top biscuit maker Britannia Industries. "It's a small village, India and the aviation industry. Every time there is somebody who is talking to somebody, there is rumour of a merger or alliance," Badiali said referring to the recent media speculation over a possible merger between GoAir and SpiceJet. Badiali also said that a strategic investor was an opportunity, but a decision on that would be taken by the promoters and the shareholders of GoAir. "You can never exclude anything. You would be also stupid to exclude anything," he said.