"The decision was taken after a thorough and fair evaluation based on complete and comprehensive data provided by us," Boeing's vice president, Dinesh A Keskar, said.

Maintaining that he did not want to respond to reported reservations expressed by Airbus Industrie over the way the Rs 30,000 crore (Rs 300 billion) acquisition plan was worked out, Keskar said "We don't see any problem as the decision was based on thorough and fair evaluation by the airline."

"We have offered a competitive, complete and comprehensive package. They (Air India) have done an independent evaluation. Our partnership with the airline is going to continue. We will going to do everything to help the airline," Keskar said.

The complete package was for 50 aircraft--27 of them B787, eight B777--200LR and 15 777-300ER. The delivery schedule would be worked out once the government approved the deal, he said.

He said the biggest advantage of the models offered by Boeing was that the airline could save fuel and maintenance costs significantly.

A-I, Boeing deal: Angry Airbus seeks review

The Airline could save two million gallons of fuel per aircraft per year from B 777 LR and one million gallon from B777 ER. The "dreamliner" B787 would be 20 per cent fuel efficient compared to similar aircraft, he said.

Besides its fuel efficiency, B787 would ensure pleasant flying experience to passengers like bigger windows, congenial climatic experience and mood lighting through electronically controlled translucency, the Boeing official said.

Made of composites, a part of the aircraft's fuel efficiency was due to its engines and partly due to its aerodynamism, he said. The model had already got 237 commitments from 19 operators around the world, he said.

Keskar, who was in Thiruvananthapuram in connection with the launch of Air India Express, said the low-cost airlines were "catching up as a phenomenon all over the world."