NEW DELHI, India — Pieter Elbers has resigned as chief executive officer of IndiGo, India’s largest airline operated by InterGlobe Aviation Limited, months after the carrier faced its most severe operational crisis in December last year.
The airline announced the leadership change Tuesday in a regulatory filing, stating that Rahul Bhatia, managing director of InterGlobe Aviation, will take over management of the airline on an interim basis.
“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,” the filing added.
Vikram Singh Mehta, chairman of the board, said Bhatia’s return to oversee the airline’s operations is aimed at strengthening the company’s culture, improving operational performance, and reinforcing IndiGo’s commitment to reliable 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 took over as IndiGo’s CEO a little more than three years ago, led the airline during a period of rapid expansion.
During his tenure, IndiGo surpassed $10 billion in annual revenue and expanded its fleet to more than 440 aircraft. The airline also placed a historic order for 500 A320-family aircraft with Airbus, one of the largest aircraft purchases in aviation history.
Despite those milestones, Elbers’ time at the helm was overshadowed by a major operational crisis in December 2025.
The disruption occurred as the airline struggled to implement new regulations designed to prevent pilot fatigue. Between Dec. 3 and Dec. 5, IndiGo cancelled more than 2,500 flights and delayed nearly 1,900 others, affecting more than 300,000 passengers across India. (Source: IANS)
