Norwegian (Oslo Gardermoen) has confirmed that it "recently" held talks with Ryanair (FR, Dublin International) concerning the Irish budget carrier's interest in acquiring a stake in its Scandinavian rival.

Norwegian's head of Institutional Relations in Spain, Alfons Claver, told the EFE news agency last week that Ryanair was only one of several prospective investors to have approached the carrier in addition to IAG International Airlines Group.

Last month, Reuters reported that the Irish LCC had approached Norwegian last year over the acquisition of around a 20% stake. Ryanair subsequently rejected the report stating that it never courted Norwegian as it doesn't "catch falling knives", an apparent dig at Norwegian's financial state.

Claver has since stressed that the Nordic carrier is viable as an independent entity and that "it does not have to be sold".