The Air India acquisition paves the way for a bruising battle for market share between the Tata group and India’s biggest airline company, IndiGo, at a time when the Indian skies are set to witness the entry of at least one new player, Akasa Air, funded by star investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, and the revival of the fallen Jet Airways, which is now controlled by the Kalrock-Jalan consortium.