New Delhi, Aug 30 (IANS): Aviation industry major Bird Group is contemplating buying a stake in national flag carrier Air India via divestment route, Civil Aviation Secretary R.N. Choubey said on Wednesday.

Choubey disclosed this to the media on the sidelines of an industry event held here.

In an unrelated development, ministerial group "Air India-specific Alternative Mechanism" headed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is slated to meet later in the evening.

The group has been formed to look into the modalities of Air India's divestment process. It has been mandated to decide on key issues such as treatment of Air India's debt and hiving-off of its assets.

The airline, which is under massive debt burden of Rs 50,000 crore, had posted an operating profit of Rs 105 crore in 2015-16.

For the last fiscal (2016-17), the company was expected to report an improved operating profit margin.

The national flag carrier in April 12, 2012, got a new lease of life when the then UPA government had approved a Rs 30,000-crore turnaround and financial restructuring plans package spanning up to 2021.