New Delhi

IndiGo announced on Tuesday that its Chief Executive Officer Pieter Elbers has stepped down with immediate effect, nearly three months after the airline faced widespread flight disruptions across India.

In a press statement, the airline’s parent company InterGlobe Aviation said the Board of Directors had accepted Elbers’ resignation and thanked him for his contribution to the organisation.

“With immediate effect, Pieter Elbers will be stepping down as InterGlobe Aviation Limited’s (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 statement said.

The airline said that Rahul Bhatia, Managing Director of IndiGo, will take charge of the airline’s operations on an interim basis until a new chief executive is appointed.

“Rahul Bhatia 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 statement added.

Chairman of the Board Vikram Singh Mehta said Bhatia’s return to operational leadership would help strengthen the airline’s culture and reinforce its commitment to service 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, care, reliability and professionalism to its customers,” Mehta said.

The leadership change comes months after IndiGo faced significant operational disruptions in December 2025, when hundreds of flights were cancelled across the country, leaving tens of thousands of passengers stranded and triggering scrutiny from aviation regulators.

Bhatia, one of the founders of IndiGo, said he felt a strong responsibility toward the airline and its stakeholders.

“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,” he said.

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He added that the airline would continue to focus on strengthening its service standards, operational reliability and global reputation while prioritising customers and employees.