CEO of India s IndiGo airline Pieter Elbers resigns, months after mass flight cancellations

Pieter Elbers, the CEO of Indian airline IndiGo, has resigned, according to an announcement on Tuesday. His sudden departure comes after months of criticism over the airline's poor planning regarding pilot rest and duty rules, which left many passengers stranded. IndiGo holds about 65% of the market share in India, the fastest-growing aviation market in the world. In December, the airline canceled 4,500 flights, marking the largest crisis in its 20-year history. Regulators later criticized Elbers for his "inadequate overall oversight of flight operations and crisis management." Although IndiGo released a resignation letter stating "personal reasons" for his exit, co-founder Rahul Bhatia, who will take over temporarily, mentioned the cancellations in an internal memo. In this email, which was seen by Reuters, he stated, “What happened last December should never have taken place,” and expressed gratitude to employees for their hard work during the crisis. Elbers, who previously worked at KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, had shared the stage with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi last year, highlighting IndiGo's role as the host airline for an aviation event. He faced significant pressure following the mass cancellations in December when IndiGo acknowledged it had miscalculated the number of pilots needed after new duty and rest regulations took effect on November 1. Following these issues, India's aviation regulator fined IndiGo $2.45 million and reprimanded several senior executives. The airline has gained immense popularity in India for its punctuality and affordable ticket prices. During Elbers’ leadership, IndiGo made a substantial order for 500 Airbus narrowbody planes and several widebody aircraft to expand its services.