The search for a partner with a controlling stake in the national carrier and the acquisition of new aircraft is on hold till a new government is in place, he told newspersons here last night.

The selection of aircraft would be left to the new partner, he added.

AI had posted net profit in the last three months and the trend is expected to continue, he said adding that the revival of the Asian economies should boost the margins of the carrier further.

Even passenger demand in the domestic sector has looked up by 2.2 per cent during the first five months of the current fiscal, he said.

The ministry was also contemplating selling off the old fleet in both AI and Indian Airlines, he said adding that they were eating into their efficiency.

Airports Authority of India (AAI) has asked the Shillong-basedNorth-Eastern Council (NEC) to convert the loans, for construction of airports in the region, into grants he said adding that the infrastructure was not expected to be financially viable.