'Should the aircraft not be found within the current search area, ministers agreed to extend the search by an additional 60,000 square kilometres to bring the search area to 120,000 square kilometres and thereby cover the entire highest probability area identified by
expert
analysis," they said in a joint statement."Ministers recognise the additional search area may take up to a year to complete given the adverse weather conditions in the upcoming winter months." '
From here:
Australia says expanded search area for Flight MH370 may take a year | Reuters