India's aviation sector is facing significant turbulence as its largest carrier, IndiGo, grapples with a major operational disruption. The crisis, now in its fourth day, has led to the delay or cancellation of over 500 flights, causing widespread passenger inconvenience and a notable financial impact on its co-founder.
Who Is Rahul Bhatia: The Man Behind IndiGo
Rahul Bhatia, the Group Managing Director of InterGlobe Aviation, is the driving force behind IndiGo's rise. He co-founded the airline's parent company in 1989, initially focusing on Air Transport Management. An electrical engineering graduate from Canada's University of Waterloo, Bhatia has overseen IndiGo's expansion from a single airline to a diversified conglomerate.
Under his leadership, the group's portfolio now includes hospitality, logistics, technology, airline management, pilot training, and aircraft maintenance engineering. Bhatia directly owns a 0.01% stake, or 40,000 shares, in the publicly listed InterGlobe Aviation, according to BSE data from 5 December 2025.
Financial Fallout and Leadership History
The ongoing flight chaos has had a direct impact on Bhatia's wealth. As of 5 December 2025, his net worth stands at $8.1 billion, placing him 420th on the Forbes global billionaires list. However, this marks a drop of 1.02%, or $84 million, attributed to the airline's current crisis.
IndiGo was originally co-founded by Bhatia and Rakesh Gangwal. After a public disagreement in 2019, Gangwal stepped down from the board in 2022 and has been reducing his stake. BSE data shows he currently holds a 4.53% stake, or over 1.75 crore shares, in the company.
Navigating the Operational Storm
The root of the current disruption lies in adapting to updated Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms for crew rostering. IndiGo has informed the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) that the transition, combined with minor technology issues, winter schedule changes, and general air traffic congestion, has strained operations.
The airline expects cancellations to persist for the next 2-3 days as part of schedule stabilisation efforts. It aims to restore stable operations by 10 February 2026. To prevent future issues, IndiGo plans to strengthen its crew planning systems in full compliance with the new FDTL rules and improve coordination with Air Traffic Control (ATC) to manage capacity and turnaround times more effectively.
This episode highlights the delicate balance in the aviation industry, where regulatory changes can trigger immediate operational and financial consequences, even for a market leader like IndiGo.
