IndiGo‘s co-founder Rahul Bhatia is taking up because the airline’s interim Chief Government Officer (CEO) practically twenty years after co-founding the airline. The event comes as Pieter Elbers, the CEO of India’s largest airline, resigned on Tuesday.
Quickly after Elbers stepped down, Bhatia advised IndiGo workers in an inner message that he was assuming a broader management position with a robust sense of duty towards the airline’s clients, shareholders and staff, Hindustan Instances reported.
Rahul Bhatia’s inner notice to staff
The airline’s co-founder talked about the December 2025 incident, when India’s largest airline plunged right into a disaster following an operational meltdown that resulted in a whole bunch of flights being cancelled. Referencing the incident, Bhatia stated that what occurred in December ought to by no means have occurred, including that neither the shoppers nor IndiGo’s workers deserved it, “particularly the frontline staff who bore a lot of the brunt for no fault of theirs.”
Expressing his gratitude to all colleagues, Bhatia thanked all those that supported the corporate with grace and dignity and labored tirelessly, usually by means of sleepless nights, to revive IndiGo’s operational stability, saying they honestly signify the spirit of the airline.
IndiGo CEO resigns
Elbers, who resigned earlier at present, took IndiGo’s cost in September 2022. IndiGo, underneath Elbers’ management, changed into a $10-billion airline. It expanded its fleet to over 440 plane and in addition positioned a document order for 500 Airbus 320-family jets.
Regardless of Elbers’ evident success on the firm, all of it got here crashing down in December final yr. The operational disruption was attributable to the airline’s challenges in rolling out new guidelines geared toward decreasing pilot fatigue. Between 3 and 5 December, the airline cancelled over 2,500 flights and delayed practically 1,900 others, disrupting journey plans for greater than 300,000 passengers.
Earlier this January, the Directorate Normal of Civil Aviation (DGCA) imposed a large high quality of ₹22.20 crore and issued show-cause notices on to Elbers. Though he initially withstood calls for for his resignation, the disaster dealt a significant blow to the airline’s repute for punctuality.
Worst is behind us: Elbers
In a message dated 18 December, Elbers addressed the operational meltdown that IndiGo was grappling with, and claimed that the “worst is behind us.” On the day Elbers recorded the message for IndiGo staff, he stated the corporate had restored 2,200 flights, indicating it was now trying to stabilise operations.
Bhatia vows to repair the mess
In an inner letter, the corporate’s co-founder sought staff’ help to assist them regain their proper to decide on clients. Bhatia urged staff to remain targeted and accountable, stay united, and proceed offering clients with reasonably priced fares and a easy journey expertise. He additionally wished staff and their households properly, signing off the message with “Principal Hoon Na.”