IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers Resigns Months After Airline’s Worst Flight Disruption

NEW DELHI — Pieter Elbers has stepped down as chief executive officer of IndiGo, India’s largest airline operated by InterGlobe Aviation Limited, months after the carrier faced its worst-ever operational crisis, the company said Tuesday.

In a regulatory filing to stock exchanges, the airline said Rahul Bhatia, managing director of InterGlobe Aviation, will take charge of the airline’s management on an interim basis while the company searches for a new chief executive.

“With immediate effect, Pieter Elbers will be stepping down as IndiGo CEO. The Board of Directors would like to thank Pieter for his contribution and service to the organisation and wishes him well in his future endeavours,” the airline said.

“Rahul Bhatia, Managing Director of IndiGo, shall in the interim assume management of the affairs of the airline until such time that the Company announces the arrival of a new leader, which is expected in short order,” it added.

Vikram Singh Mehta, chairman of the board, said Bhatia’s return to direct the airline’s operations is intended to strengthen company culture, reinforce operational performance, and deepen the airline’s commitment to reliability and customer service.

“Having founded and nurtured IndiGo for twenty-two years, I feel a deep sense of personal commitment and responsibility towards our nation, and towards the airline’s customers, employees, shareholders and all other stakeholders,” Bhatia said.

Elbers, who became chief executive a little over three years ago, led a period of rapid expansion for the airline. During his tenure, IndiGo surpassed $10 billion in annual revenue and expanded its fleet to more than 440 aircraft.

The airline also placed a landmark order with Airbus for 500 A320-family aircraft, one of the largest aircraft purchases in aviation history.

However, Elbers’ leadership was overshadowed by a major operational disruption in December 2025.

The crisis emerged as the airline struggled to implement new regulations designed to prevent pilot fatigue. Between December 3 and December 5, IndiGo cancelled more than 2,500 flights and delayed nearly 1,900 others, affecting more than 300,000 passengers nationwide. (Source: IANS)