- Pieter Elbers resigned as CEO of IndiGo citing personal reasons.
- Co-founder Rahul Bhatia has assumed interim leadership of the airline.
- A December 2025 operational crisis caused over 2,500 flight cancellations.
- Aviation regulators fined IndiGo about $2.7 million for the disruptions.
- Despite the crisis, the airline surpassed $10 billion in annual revenue under Elbers.
India’s largest airline, IndiGo, announced Tuesday that CEO Pieter Elbers has resigned from his position following the company’s worst operational crisis in its history. The airline, operated by InterGlobe Aviation Ltd., confirmed that co-founder and managing director Rahul Bhatia will take over management responsibilities on an interim basis.
Elbers submitted his resignation, citing personal reasons, and requested that the usual notice period be waived. In a resignation letter addressed to Bhatia, he expressed gratitude for the opportunity to lead the airline.
“It has been both an honor and a privilege to serve as IndiGo CEO these past years, since September 2022,” Elbers wrote. He also reflected on the airline’s growth during his tenure and described his time with the company as part of a “beautiful growth story.”
Elbers took over as CEO in September 2022 and led the airline through a period of rapid expansion. During his leadership, IndiGo crossed the $10 billion annual revenue mark, significantly expanded its fleet, and strengthened its position as India’s largest carrier.
The airline’s fleet grew to more than 440 aircraft, and it placed a historic order for 500 Airbus A320-family planes, one of the largest aircraft orders in aviation history. These moves were aimed at supporting IndiGo’s long-term growth strategy as air travel demand surged across India.
However, Elbers’ tenure was overshadowed by a major operational breakdown in December 2025 that severely disrupted the airline’s services. The crisis was triggered by challenges in implementing new regulations designed to reduce pilot fatigue.
Between December 3 and December 5, the airline canceled more than 2,500 flights and delayed nearly 1,900 additional services. The disruption affected more than 300,000 passengers and damaged IndiGo’s reputation for punctuality, which had long been one of its strongest selling points.
India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), responded with strict action. The regulator imposed a record fine of approximately $2.7 million on the airline and issued show-cause notices directly to Elbers and other senior executives.
Although Elbers initially managed to hold on to his position despite calls for his resignation, the incident continued to weigh heavily on the airline’s public image and operational credibility.
His departure now marks a leadership shift for the airline, with Rahul Bhatia stepping back into a more hands-on role.
Bhatia, who co-founded IndiGo more than two decades ago, said he felt a strong responsibility toward the airline and its stakeholders.
“Having founded and nurtured IndiGo for 22 years, I feel a deep sense of personal commitment and responsibility toward our nation and toward the airline’s customers, employees, shareholders, and all other stakeholders,” Bhatia said in a statement.
He added that the airline will continue focusing on operational reliability, service quality, and strengthening trust among customers and investors.
Despite the leadership change, investors appeared confident in the airline’s outlook. IndiGo shares rose about 3.46 percent, closing at roughly $52.90 per share, while India’s benchmark Sensex index also ended the trading session higher.
