IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers steps down 3 months after mass flight cancellations

IndiGo said on Tuesday that its CEO Pieter Elbers has stepped down with effect from March 10, 2026. The resignation comes after the airline faced its worst-ever operational crisis in December, which drew scrutiny from both the public and the government.

Following Elbers’ exit, Rahul Bhatia will take charge of the company’s management on an interim basis. The airline confirmed that Bhatia, who serves as managing director, will oversee the affairs of the company until further arrangements are made.

In early December 2025, IndiGo faced major disruptions, cancelling 2,507



flights and delaying 1,852 flights between December 3 and 5, impacting over three lakh passengers nationwide. The problems were linked to inadequate preparation for implementing revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms for pilots.

Following the incident, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) cut IndiGo’s winter schedule by 10% until February 10. The regulator, on January 17, 2026, imposed penalties of over Rs 22 crore, issued warnings to Elbers and two other senior executives, and asked the airline to furnish a Rs 50 crore bank guarantee to ensure systemic improvements.