Pieter Elbers has resigned as Chief Executive Officer of InterGlobe Aviation, the parent company of Indian low-cost carrier IndiGo, with effect from March 10, citing personal reasons for his departure and requesting the notice period be waived.
The departure comes three months after IndiGo faced one of its most significant operational disruptions in December 2025, when hundreds of flights were cancelled and thousands of passengers were stranded, triggering public outrage and regulatory scrutiny.
Elbers had served as CEO since September 2022, during which time he led IndiGo past the $10bn revenue milestone, expanded the fleet to more than 440 aircraft, and secured a record order for 500 Airbus A320-family planes, one of the largest aircraft deals in aviation history.
Managing Director Rahul Bhatia will assume interim management of the company’s affairs until a successor is appointed.
Board Chairman Vikram Singh Mehta said Bhatia was returning to strengthen the company’s culture, reinforce operational excellence and deepen its commitment to delivering service and reliability to customers.
The crisis was linked to the airline’s handling of new pilot duty-time rules and operational planning failures, which forced authorities to issue show-cause notices to the airline’s leadership.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation subsequently imposed a record penalty of on the airline.
InterGlobe Aviation shares closed at INR4,380.40 on March 10, up 3.39% on the previous close, despite the leadership change.