DUBAI, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Dubai's flagship carrier Emirates

EMIRA.UL said on Monday it did not have plans to buy a stake in any Indian carrier, after India last week allowed foreign airlines to buy up to a 49 percent stake in local carriers.

Ailing Kingfisher Airlines KING.NS is banking on attracting a foreign airline to pump in money, while shares in budget carrier SpiceJet SPJT.BO surged on Monday, as investors hoped for foreign investments.

Any global carrier eyeing a stake in an Indian carrier must weigh up the benefits of a market with high long-term growth potential but one that has been squeezed by high costs and fierce price competition. ID:nL3E8KE3KD

"Emirates has no plans to acquire a stake in another airline in India or anywhere else," the airline said in a statement. "We are busy focusing on the many aspects of our own growth including the launch of flights to five new destinations in as many months."

(Reporting by Praveen Menon, writing by Anurag Kotoky)

((anurag.kotoky@thomsonreuters.com)(+91 11 4178 1024)(Reuters Messaging: anurag.kotoky.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))

Keywords: EMIRATES INDIA/