The new order by Jet Airways was confirmed by the Boeing Commercial Airplanes Group during a joint press conference by Boeing and Jet Airways at the Paris air show in Le Bourget, France, Mark Hooper, a spokesman from the company's headquarters in Seattle, US, said.

Deliveries will commence in 2001 and continue till 2003, Boeing said. However, it did not give the break-up of the deliveries. "We don't release such figures because the buyers do not want us to," Hooper said.

Jet had earlier announced at the Paris air show that it would lease five ATR 72-500 aircraft for its feeder routes.

Jet Airways' order for the purchase of the 10 737-800s is the first for the next generation 737 models in South and Southeast Asia, Boeing said.

"We chose the Boeing 737 based on the superior reliability and comfort we have experienced with ourcurrent fleet of 737 aircraft," Jet Airways chairman Naresh Goyal said at the press conference, according to a Boeing press note.

The 737-800 incorporates enhancements found in the other members of the next generation 737 family including a redesigned passenger cabin, a flight deck featuring the most versatile display system offered on any commercial jetliner and improvements in operating performance.

"This is a strategically important sale in India because of the significant growth we forecast for the domestic Indian market," said Boeing Commercial Airplanes Group executive vice-president for sales and marketing Seddik Belyamani.

Hooper said that according to Boeing's study, "India's domestic market is expected to register a growth between 4 and 6 per cent in the next 20 years." Currently, there are 44 Boeing 737s operating in India, making it the most popular airplane now in service in the Indian domestic market.

In 1996, Jet Airways ordered four 737-400s and six 737-800s with the first of theseairplanes delivered in 1997. "Out of the 10 from the 1996 order, we have delivered so far four 737-400s and two 737-800s and the rest will be delivered through the year 2000," Hooper said.

Boeing so far has received orders for more than 1,150 737-600/700/800/900s since the launch of the next-generation family in early 1994.