The unstoppable ascent of India's aviation juggernaut

IndiGo's story is more than a corporate triumph. It's a blueprint for marrying fiscal rigour with operational brilliance In the process, it has not only survived but thrived, turning India's aviation liberalisation into a $50 billion empire. As CEO Pieter Elbers, the former KLM chief who took the helm in 2022, asserts, “Our goal isn’t just to fly planes, but to democratise the skies.” With 1,000 aircraft on order and a nation of 1.4 billion as its runway, IndiGo isn’t just leading Indian aviation:

- NIDHI SHARMA reports

In the tumultuous world of aviation, where airlines often rise and fall with economic tides, few stories rival the meteoric rise of IndiGo that transformed from a startup into a behemoth commanding 63 per cent of India's domestic market and standing as the world's fourth-largest low-cost airline by market capitalisation, which translated to $18 billion (₹1.53 lakh crore) as of July 2024.

Pieter Elbers, IndiGo's CEO, always says with a smile, “India is in a hurry and so is IndiGo.” The Dutch-born aviation veteran, who will mark three years at the helm this August, highlights key milestones that reflect IndiGo's rapid ascent, comprising a staggering order of 950 aircraft and 113 million passengers flying to 126 destinations in 2024 alone.

Of the Hindi words that Elbers has picked up, 'Jaldi, Jaldi,' (fast or quickly) is an effective term to describe IndiGo's journey.

IndiGo's growing influence on the global aviation stage is underscored by its role as host of the 81st Annual General Meeting of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which took place in New Delhi this month. Noteworthy that this event is returning to India after a gap of 40 years. Elbers highlights the significance of this moment, emphasising that it marks an ideal opportunity to showcase the remarkable growth and rising prominence of Indian aviation.