Replying to supplementaries during Question Hour, Civil Aviation Minister Shahnawaz Hussain said after the September 11 attacks, the interest for bidding in Air-India and Indian Airlines had waned and the matter had been referred to Cabinet Committee on Divestment for a final decision on whether to go ahead with the divestment in these air carriers or not.

The decision to go ahead with the Rs 10,095 crore (Rs 100.95 billion) deal for purchase of aircraft for IA besides another deal for A-I will depend on the outcome of the CCD meeting, the minister said.

Stating that no new addition had been made to the fleet of the IA after the deal of A 320 aircraft in 1989, Hussain said the airlines had proposed to acquire 43 new aircraft for replacement of the entire fleet of old aircraft and for capacity expansion.

Currently the IA had a total fleet of 58 aircraft including 12 taken on dry leasing, the minister said adding if the proposal of acquiring new aircraft fructified, IA would have a total of 73 aircraft after returning the dry leased aircraft and phasing out old ones.