New Delhi, March 31 IndiGo's Co-Founder and Managing Director Rahul Bhatia, who is currently managing the airline's affairs, described himself as "a temporary guest" on Tuesday as the carrier prepares to welcome William Walsh as the new CEO.
Less than three weeks after the sudden exit of then CEO Pieter Elbers on March 10, IndiGo announced on Tuesday that aviation industry veteran Walsh will be taking over, with an expected start date of August 3 this year.
In an internal message to staff, Bhatia said that IndiGo is privileged to be led by a leader of Walsh's stature and experience.
"Equally importantly, I am proud to know that by accepting the invitation from the IndiGo Board of Directors to lead, he has placed his faith and confidence in what has been painstakingly built over the years by all of you. I look forward to handing over the reins to him by August 3, 2026," he said.
He concluded the message with "Rahul" or "Kuchh Hee Dinon Kaa Mehmaan," which literally means "a temporary guest."
In the context of IndiGo, this implies that his role in managing the airline's affairs will be temporary, as the new CEO will be taking over.
When the announcement of Elbers' resignation was made on March 10, Bhatia had sent a message to staff saying, "I am stepping into my expanded role of managing IndiGo's affairs with a deep sense of responsibility -- not only to the company's customers and shareholders, but to every employee who powers this airline...
"I remain fully committed to strengthening our culture, reinforcing Operational Excellence, and ensuring that we continue to deliver exceptional service and value to our customers."
He concluded the message as "Rahul alias Main Hoon Naa."
"Main Hoon Naa" was a Bollywood blockbuster starring Shah Rukh Khan, released in 2004.
Elbers had resigned three months after the massive operational disruptions at the airline in December 2025.