IndiGo Stock Gains 2% After CEO Pieter Elbers Says ‘The Worst Is Behind Us’

IndiGo Share Price: Shares of IndiGo parent InterGlobe Aviation surged over 2 per cent on December 18 after CEO Pieter Elbers told employees that “the worst is behind us,” following a crisis earlier this month that led to large-scale flight cancellations and widespread disruption.

In morning trade, the stock climbed to around Rs 5,100 per share.

In a video message to employees, Elbers said, “Through the storm, we found our wings again,” acknowledging that the past two weeks had been extremely challenging. “As IndiGo employees, we stood tall and united,” he said.

Thanking staff across functions, Elbers added that the airline weathered the storm together with unwavering mutual support. He expressed gratitude to pilots, cabin crew, airport staff,

operations control teams, customer service and other functions, saying their collective dedication forms the backbone of IndiGo.

Elbers said IndiGo has restored its network to 2,200 flights. “Given our scale and complexity, recovering from such a situation in a short time is a testament to our teamwork and the strength of our operating principles,” he noted.

Earlier this month, the airline faced mass cancellations and chaos at major Indian airports. A key reason was a sharp shortage of crew, especially pilots, following the implementation of revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms. While the new rules mandate more rest hours and humane rosters, IndiGo has been struggling to realign its network accordingly.

Focus on resilience, root-cause analysis and rebuilding

Going forward, IndiGo will focus on three priorities—resilience, root-cause analysis and rebuilding, Elbers said. Amid challenging weather conditions, the airline’s immediate focus will be on maintaining operational stability and minimising disruption.

Reflecting on the recent crisis, Elbers said the situation appeared to be the result of a compounding effect of several factors. While speculation is circulating, he advised employees to remain calm and avoid engaging in rumours.

Elbers said the airline needs a full-scale assessment and that the board has appointed an external aviation expert to conduct a comprehensive root-cause analysis.

“Similar disruptions have occurred in other parts of the world with large airlines. While every crisis is unique, lessons from others will also help us strengthen our systems,” he added.

IndiGo share price performance

Since the beginning of the month, IndiGo shares had fallen over 21 per cent to hit a low of Rs 4,645 per share on December 11. The stock has since recovered more than 7 per cent, though it remains below pre-crisis levels.