SHARES of IndiGo rose on Wednesday after the airline appointed Willie Walsh as its new chief executive, weeks after the departure of Pieter Elbers.
The stock gained 4.4 per cent following the announcement. Analysts said the appointment came quickly and is expected to ensure continuity in operations.
IndiGo said Walsh will take over on August 3, shortly after his term as head of the International Air Transport Association ends on July 31.
Walsh currently leads the civil aviation industry body IATA and has experience leading airlines, including a decade at International Airlines Group, the parent company of Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia and Vueling. He has about four decades of experience in aviation.
IndiGo board chairman Vikram Singh Mehta said Walsh's "experience in managing large-scale airline operations and navigating complex market dynamics make him ideally suited to strengthen and lead IndiGo for continued growth in an ever-evolving and competitive international aviation environment."
Pieter Elbers stepped down on March 10. His exit came months after flight cancellations by IndiGo disrupted airports across India.
In January, India’s civil aviation regulator fined IndiGo $2.45 million for poor roster planning that led to large-scale cancellations in December. The airline cancelled more than 4,500 flights after failing to prepare for new pilot rest rules.
Regulators also reprimanded senior executives, including Elbers, citing "inadequate overall oversight of flight operations and crisis management".
IndiGo operates more than 2,200 daily flights with a fleet of over 400 aircraft. It connects more than 95 domestic and 40 international destinations and carried about 124 million passengers in 2025.
The airline has about a 65 per cent share of India’s aviation market.
Like other airlines, IndiGo has been affected by higher costs as flights are rerouted due to the conflict in the Middle East and restrictions on Pakistani airspace.
Analysts said key priorities for the airline include improving reliability, addressing crew issues and managing its low-cost model amid cost pressures.
IndiGo shares are down 19 per cent so far this year, making it one of the worst performers on the Nifty 50. The airline is valued at 1.59 trillion rupees ($16.97 billion).
(With inputs from agencies)
