IndiGo Appoints Willie Walsh as New CEO

India's largest airline, IndiGo, announced on Tuesday the appointment of Willie Walsh, the current director general of the International Air Transport Association, as its new chief executive officer, marking a significant leadership change amid recent operational challenges.

The appointment, subject to regulatory approvals from India's civil aviation ministry, comes weeks after the abrupt departure of former CEO Pieter Elbers in early March. Elbers, a Dutch aviation veteran, stepped down following intense scrutiny over IndiGo's handling of a major crisis in December, when the carrier canceled thousands of flights due to crew shortages and inadequate preparation for revised flight duty time limitations. The disruptions stranded hundreds of thousands of passengers nationwide, leading to a financial impact estimated at around 2,000 crore rupees for the airline. Regulators, including the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, imposed a penalty of 22.20 crore rupees on IndiGo and issued show-cause notices to senior management, including Elbers, for lapses in oversight and crisis management.

InterGlobe Aviation, IndiGo's parent company, confirmed that Walsh's tenure at IATA will end...