Amid uncertainty over future of Jet Airways, the consortium of SBI-led lenders on Thursday said bids for selling stake would be invited on April 6 and other options would be explored in case the stake sale efforts does not result in an “acceptable outcome”.

After taking stock of the current situation at cash-strapped Jet Airways, which is currently operating less than 30 planes, the lenders said they would pursue resolution plan for the carrier in a time-bound manner under the present legal and regulatory framework.

The expressions of interest for selling stake in the ailing airline would be invited on April 6 and the last date for submission of bids would be April 9, a statement issued by the SBI on behalf of 26 lenders said.

SBI is the lead lender to Jet Airways, which has a debt burden of more than `8,000 crore.

“The lenders are cognisant thpti n t the outcome of the efforts of the lenders will depend on the interest shown by the parties on sale of stake in the company,” the statement issued late in the evening said.

“Whilst all efforts will be made for the stake sale by the lenders, other options may be considered by the lenders should these efforts not result in an acceptable outcome,” it said.

The statement was issued after a nearly three-hour meeting of the lenders in the national capital. The meeting was chaired by SBI Chairma Rajnish Kumar, who earlier in the day met several Government officials in the finance and Civil Aviation Ministries.

Under the debt resolution plan approved by the Jet Airways’ board on March 25, lenders have taken majority stake in the airline and are set to infuse `1,500 crore funds.