Pieter Elbers has submitted his resignation as CEO of the Indian airline IndiGo with immediate effect, citing personal reasons, the company announced.
Elbers’ departure comes a few months after the airline experienced widespread flight cancellations, stranding tens of thousands of passengers and sparking intense criticism and scrutiny from India’s aviation regulators.
IndiGo announced that until a new CEO is appointed, Rahul Bhatia, CEO of InterGlobe Enterprises, will temporarily take over the management of the company.
InterGlobe Enterprises is the largest shareholder of InterGlobe Aviation, the company that manages IndiGo, with a 35.69% stake as of December.
Elbers took over as CEO in 2022, coming from the Dutch airline KLM, where he also served as CEO. During his tenure at IndiGo, he was responsible for the company’s strategic development, which is India’s largest airline in terms of passenger numbers and market share.
His resignation was announced during a period when IndiGo is facing challenges related to both its flight network operations and geopolitical developments in the region.
The airline is among those that have rerouted and canceled flights to avoid flying over Pakistan due to tensions in the region and the restrictions imposed.
Changes in flight schedules have affected the operations of many airlines that fly in the broader region of South Asia, with IndiGo adjusting its flight schedule to ensure the safety of passengers and crew.
The company did not provide further details about the reasons for Elbers’ resignation, other than personal reasons, and it has not yet been announced who will permanently take over the position of the airline’s head.
