Govt to consider Boeing's offer

India has told the US government that due consideration would be given to the offer of American aircraft major, Boeing for the fleet acquisition plans of Air India and Indian Airlines, US Transportation Secretary Norman Y Mineta said on Thursday.

"President George Bush has spoken to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh some time ago" and the subject was raised by him with Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel also, Mineta said after signing a historic air services agreement with India in New Delhi.

"Full consideration will be given to the Boeing offer", the US Secretary said quoting Indian officials' response to the Boeing offer.

Maintaining that he had raised the issue with Patel in January during the Minister's official visit to the US, Mineta said he hoped a decision would be forthcoming "very soon".

While Indian Airlines has already conducted price negotiations with European aircraft consortium Airbus Industrie for 43 aircraft, Air India Board has decided to take a total of 50 aircraft -- a mix of Boeing and Airbus fleet for itself and its wholly-owned subsidiary Air India Express.

A top Boeing official on Tuesday said the firm had offered a "comprehensive competitive pricing" package to Air India for its fleet plan. He said his company was also in

talks with almost all Indian carriers, including Jet Airways, Air Sahara and SpiceJet, for these and other aircrafts for their domestic and international operations.