IndiGo names former Air India Express CEO Aloke Singh as chief strategy officer

IndiGo has hired former Air India Express managing director Aloke Singh as chief strategy officer; This is the first senior leadership change at the country’s largest airline, less than two weeks after CEO Peters Elbers left and founder Rahul Bhatia stepped into the role of interim boss.

Singh will lead IndiGo’s long-term strategic planning and spearhead enterprise-wide transformation initiatives with a focus on accelerating growth, improving operational efficiency and strengthening the airline’s competitive position in the increasingly dynamic global aviation market, the company said.

Bhatia, the company’s co-founder and managing director, welcomed Singh in a company statement and said, “For now, Aloke will report to me. Once the next CEO takes over, he will start reporting to the new CEO.”

Also Read | As competition intensifies, AIESL looks at Jewar and Navi Mumbai MRO hubs

In his statement, Singh said he joined IndiGo at a “pivotal moment” for both the airline and the broader Indian aviation industry, as the airline aims to deepen its domestic leadership while expanding its global footprint.

Sanjay Kumar was the last formally appointed chief strategy officer at Indigo and served until December 2022.

Singh, who is likely one of the first senior leaders IndiGo has hired from a local rival airline, starts his new role on April 6.

The move comes at a time when IndiGo is preparing to introduce wide-body aircraft and deepen international operations, requiring tighter coordination between network planning, commercial strategy, operations and partnerships.

Also Read | Mission Drone Shakti: India plans ₹1,800 cr plan to boost domestic production

a veteran

Singh joined IndiGo after leading Air India Express (AIX) through a period of rapid growth and integration, including the merger with Air Asia India as part of the Tata group’s airline consolidation. He resigned from his post as CEO of Air India Express, now part of the Tata-owned Air India group, on March 19.

During his tenure at AIX he saw the harmonization of fleets, employment contracts, planning systems and route networks; It was a complex exercise that transformed the airline from a Gulf-focused operator into a broader domestic and short-haul international carrier feeding into the group’s Air India-anchored network.

Before Air India Express, Singh held senior roles in network planning and strategy at Oman Air and before that at the then state-owned Indian Airlines.

Also Read | Booked a flight by mistake? New rule gives 48 hours to cancel without penalty

This move shows that the airline is looking to strengthen its leadership as it expands internationally beyond its strong domestic base. Singh will work closely with the leadership team on key areas such as expanding routes, improving customer experience and making the organization more agile.

IndiGo first saw a sudden leadership change with Elbers’ departure on March 10; It comes three months after the airline canceled more than 4,500 flights in December for failure to comply with new pilot rest norms mandated by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), triggering an operational meltdown that left thousands of passengers stranded at airports.

Following the crisis, DGCA has reduced IndiGo’s winter schedule by 10% till February 10. On January 17, 2026, the regulator imposed penalties exceeding: ₹22 crore, issued a warning to Elbers and two other senior executives and asked the airline to provide a bank guarantee. ₹50 crore to ensure systematic improvements.