Depends on fares, too. If 9W doesn't price itself out of the market, it will take share from AI. Many passengers doing NA-India are highly price sensitive - and are willing to put up with some minor inconvenience for cheaper fares. I don't think AI's impending Star Alliance membership is going to transform it overnight into another airline, nor do I believe that highly price sensitive passengers are going to find this a determinative factor in its favour.