India's low-cost carrier SpiceJet has sought 7,000 seats a week to Qatar, according to a newspaper report.

The report in the Times of India speculated whether the airline was in talks with Qatar Airways for a stake sale similar to the one entered into by India's Jet Airways with Etihad Airways of Abu Dhabi.

The Jet-Etihad deal had seen both airlines seeking - and getting - substantial increase in flying rights between India and Abu Dhabi, it said.

SpiceJet COO Sanjiv Kapoor confirmed on Friday that the airline was in talks with an external investor. "At this moment, we will not be able to say anything more than that," he said, denying a report that the carrier will sell its foreign slots to Qatar Airways.

The airline lost over Rs 1,000 crore last fiscal and its accumulated losses have wiped out its net worth, the report said.