The News Minute| August 8, 2014| 11.00 am ISTIs SpiceJet promoter and media baron Kalanithi Maran in talks with potential buyers to sell his majority stake in Spicejet airline? A Hindustan Times report says the baron has initiated discussions with a 'clutch' of private equity players to buy out Maran's 53.48% stake in the airline.India's second largest low-fare airline, SpiceJet had posted a loss of Rs. 1003.24 crore in the last financial yearKapil Kaul, south Asia chief executive of aviation consultancy Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (Capa) told HT that SpiceJet was in need of further fund infusion for growth and expansion.The Economic Times however says SpiceJet is showing first signs of a turnaround. The report says salaries of of pilots and crew was raised by 10%, after three years.ET also says SpiceJet has been fronting aggressive ticket sales in the country and in June, SpiceJet had the highest load factors of 81.4 per cent in the industry. The airline also saw a small increase in passengers in the first quarter of this year, according to ET.The News Minute tasked SpiceJet and sources close to Maran, they denied to comment on reports of selling majority stake.
