IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers steps down; Rahul Bhatia to oversee airline operations in interim
InterGlobe Aviation, the parent company of IndiGo, announced on Tuesday that its Chief Executive Officer Pieter Elbers will step down from his role with immediate effect.
In an organisational announcement dated March 10, 2026, the airline said its Board of Directors thanked Elbers for his contribution and service to the organisation and wished him well in his future endeavours.
Following his departure, Rahul Bhatia, Managing Director of IndiGo, will interim assume management of the airline’s affairs until a new leader is appointed. The company said the appointment of a new CEO is expected to be announced shortly.
Interim leadership arrangement
The airline said Bhatia will oversee operations during the transition period, reinforcing IndiGo’s operational priorities and strategic focus.
Commenting on the development, Vikram Singh Mehta, Chairman of the Board, said Rahul Bhatia’s return to operational leadership will help strengthen the company’s culture and operational excellence.
“Rahul returns to assume management of the affairs of the airline to strengthen the Company’s Culture, reinforce Operational Excellence and deepen its commitment to delivering exceptional service of care, reliability and professionalism to its customers,” Mehta said.
Rahul Bhatia on the transition
Rahul Bhatia, who co-founded IndiGo and has been closely associated with the airline’s growth over the past two decades, said he remains committed to ensuring the airline continues to serve its stakeholders effectively.
“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.
He added that IndiGo will continue to focus on culture, service excellence and stakeholder trust, while sharpening its strategy to serve India and its growing aviation market.
About IndiGo
IndiGo is India’s largest airline and among the fastest-growing carriers globally. The airline operates a fleet of more than 400 aircraft and runs over 2,200 daily flights, connecting more than 95 domestic and over 40 international destinations.
The airline served 124 million passengers in calendar year 2025 and has received several industry recognitions. IndiGo was named the Best Airline in India and South Asia at the Skytrax World Airline Awards 2025 and ranked the sixth most punctual airline in the Asia-Pacific region in 2025, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.
The leadership transition comes as the airline continues to expand its network and strengthen its position in India’s rapidly growing aviation sector.