The search for missing flight MH370 will be suspended if the plane is not found in the current search area, which is scheduled to end in December.
Transport ministers from Malaysia, China and Australia met in Kuala Lumpar on Friday discuss the future of the search.
In a joint press conference the ministers said the search "would not end, but be suspended" if the plane was not found in the current search area.
Malaysia's transport minister Liow Tiong Lai said bad weather conditions had delayed the search which was scheduled to be complete by June.
"Today in our meeting, and in the absence of credible new evidence, Australia, China and Malaysia have collectively decided to suspend the search upon the completion of the 120,000 kilometre search area," Mr Liow told reporters.
"I must emphasise that this does not mean that we have given up on locating MH370. If there are any new credible news, or credible new evidence, we will continue to work together to analyse those evidence.
"The families and loved ones of the passengers and crew of MH370 remain a priority."
The three transport ministers said cost was not a factor and data will continue to be analysed looking for "new credible evidence" of the plane's location.
Almost $180 million has been spend on the underwater search covering 120,000 square kilometres of the southern Indian Ocean.
MH370 disappeared in March, 2014 during a flight from Beijing which was carrying 239 people.