With private airlines pushing Air India and Indian to the backseat, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asked the national carriers on Saturday to ensure world-class services as they start inducting new generation aircraft to face the growing competition.

"I want you to focus your attention on that. Our airports, our airlines and all related systems must be world class and must make every customer and client feel cared for," he said at a function here to mark the launch of the new Air India fleet.

The government had taken decisive steps in a short period of one year for placing the largest procurement order of 111 aircraft for both Indian and Air India, Singh said.

"This has been by far the largest procurement of aircraft by any airline in the country," he said, hoping that with these acquisitions, the national carriers would be better placed to take on competition at home and abroad, and regain their 'lost elan.'

The national carriers have so far been unable to take advantage of the opening of skies, primarily due to the shortage of aircraft, he said.

"The opening up of the skies has created new market opportunities for civil aviation business in India. However, our national carriers were unable to take full advantage of the opportunities at hand for a variety of reasons," he said.

Earlier, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel sought Prime Minister's support for acquiring new aircraft for the national carriers, over and above the 111 planes which would mainly replace the existing fleet.

At the function, which was also attended by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Patel said the merged entity would require many more aircraft, even after the 111 planes were inducted.

"If we have to look ahead for growth, we will have to revisit the entire fleet requirement. I will urge the government and the Prime Minister to look into this aspect," he said.

Talking to reporters, Patel said his ministry would soon submit a proposal to the Planning Commission for sanction of new aircraft to meet the needs of state-owned carriers after 2011.

Air India Chairman and Managing Director V Thulasidas said the proposal to the Planning Commission would indicate a requirement of about 60 planes of all sizes depending on the demands of different segments.

Earlier, the Prime Minister launched the new fleet of Air India that included long-haul Boeing 777-200, which will run non-stop on Mumbai-New York and Delhi-New York sector. The new fleet also comprised two freighter aircraft to meet the growing cargo requirements.

While the Mumbai-New York flight will begin in August, the Delhi-New York operations will begin by the end of the year, Thulasidas said.