But not everyone agrees. A top ministry official who has been privy to the subtle and not-so-subtle battles between the two carriers says he thinks that Jet has stolen a huge march by getting permission to fly through Shanghai, thereby reducing the time taken to fly and opening up a new untapped route.
He says he's impressed by Goyal's style of taking things head-on. "If he wanted Shanghai, he landed up there and stayed put till he got it. If he wants anything, he pursues it himself and doesn't leave things to his lieutenants."
In contrast, Mallya, who is rarely in the country, not only has to leave crucial things to his executives, but is also distracted with the sheer number of things he's taken on in the last year.
"Goyal has just one business; for Mallya the airline is one of many. I think the difference will eventually show," he adds.
Image: Naresh Goyal, chairman, Jet Airways poses in front of a Jet Airways plane after the signing of a memorandum for new European hub at Zaventem airport
Photograph: Herwig Vergult/AFP/Getty Images
Also read: Budget: What's cheaper, what's costlier
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