IndiGo has named William Walsh as its new CEO, effective August 2026, succeeding Pieter Elbers during a leadership transition.
IndiGo has appointed William Walsh as its new CEO, effective August 2026, reported Mumbai's STAT Trade Times. Mr. Walsh will succeed Pieter Elbers, who recently stepped down, with Rahul Bhatia serving as interim leader during the transition.
Mr. Walsh is currently the director general of the International Air Transport Association and will conclude his tenure there on 31 July before joining IndiGo no later than 3 August. He previously led British Airways and International Airlines Group and earlier held senior roles at Aer Lingus.
IndiGo Chairman Vikram Singh Mehta welcomed the appointment, describing Walsh as a global aviation leader with extensive experience in managing large-scale airline operations. Mr. Bhatia added that Walsh's combination of global perspective and operational expertise made him well-suited to guide IndiGo's next phase of growth.
Mr. Walsh expressed his delight in leading IndiGo, praising its strong foundation, vision, and people. He pledged to build a culture of excellence, innovation, and sustainable value as the airline adapts to a rapidly evolving aviation landscape.
IndiGo has more than 400 aircraft and operates over 2,200 daily flights across 95 domestic and 40 international destinations. The airline carried 124 million passengers in 2025 and was named Best Airline in India and South Asia at the World Airline Awards.
