IndiGo CEO on India-Pakistan Crisis, UK Trade Deal, and New Partnerships
Photo Credit: IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers speaking at the Skift India Forum 2025. Skift
Skift Take
There’s rarely a quiet moment for IndiGo’s energetic chief executive, but Pieter Elbers has even more on his plate than usual.
The chief executive of India’s largest airline has emphasized the need for operational perspective amid escalating regional tensions. Speaking on Thursday, Pieter Elbers, CEO of IndiGo, outlined the disruption to the carrier over recent weeks.
“All of the [Pakistani] airspace closed two weeks back for Indian operators, that forced us to cancel two destinations in Central Asia and the rest had some diversions, but it was actually quite minimal in terms of operational impact for us.”
Elbers highlighted IndiGo’s focus on short and medium-haul routes as limiting its initial exposure. He contrasted this to Air India’s long-haul portfolio – including routes to Western Europe and the United States – that faced greater challenges amid the geopolitical fallout.
However, the security situation has deteriorated in the last 48 hours. Early on Wednesday, India launched a military operation into Pakistani-controlled territory. It said the strikes were
