Spanish travel group Marsans said on Thursday that talks with the Argentine government to resolve the dispute over the expropriation of Aerolineas Argentinas are progressing positively.

"There is no deal as yet but negotiations have a positive air to them," a Marsans spokesman said.

In December, Argentina lawmakers approved the seizure of the struggling airline without compensating Marsans, after negotiations for its sale failed.

Financial daily Negocio cited EFE news agency as saying a final agreement is set to be signed next Wednesday and involves the Argentine government buying about 40 of the 61 Airbus planes ordered by Marsans for Aerolineas last November.

This will allow the travel company to recover EUR150 million euros (USD$193.8 million) in down-payments on the aircraft.

The resolution between Marsans and Argentina's government also includes maintaining the code-sharing agreement between Aerolineas and Marsans' Air Comet airline, Negocio said.

The reports of the agreement come in the wake of the state visit to Spain by Argentine President Cristina Fernandez on Monday and Tuesday.