Playing for the first time at the Duler Stadium which now has artificial turf, Salgaocar adapted well to the slow surface and scored four goals through a brace each from Milagres Gonsalves (21th, 26th) and Augustin Fernandes (22nd, 35th) in the first half to end the visitors' challenge.
Salgaocar, who played with only one foreigner, dominated the game from the start but it was not until the 21st minute that they could open their account.
A nice one-two between Francis and Milagres saw the latter toe the ball home from inside the six yard box.
A minute later, defender Augustin made it 2-0 as a nice cross from Nicolau Colaco from the right saw Augustin head the ball home past a diving Air India goalkeeper Sukhwinder Singh.
Air India citadel fell again in the 26th minute when custodian Sukhwinder stopped a fierce shot from Brian Mascarenhas only to see Milagres Gonsalves finding the net off rebound.
Fernandes scored again when he rose high to head home a free kick taken by Francis Fernandes from outside the box. The second half saw Salgaocar continue to dominate but without much success as the strikers were wayward.