Indigo reshuffles operations leadership, appoints Rohit Rikhye as OCC head after December flight disruptions
IndiGo has appointed Captain Rohit Rikhye as its new Head of Operations Control Center (OCC), replacing Jason Herter. This is the airline’s first major senior change since widespread operational disruptions the airline faced in December last year. PTI reported.
In January, the General Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGCA) initiated several actions against the airline for the disruptions, including fines totaling up to 100 million lira. ₹22 crore and directs the dismissal of a senior vice president.
The airline recorded an operational slump with the cancellation of more than 4,500 flights, leaving hundreds of thousands of passengers stranded at major airports in the country in December 2025. The root cause behind the issue was the severe crew shortage triggered by the introduction of new Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms.
Rohit Rikhye’s role and responsibilities
In an internal communication sent Friday, the country’s largest airline by market value announced the appointment of Rohit Rikhye as OCC Chairman, effective immediately.
The news agency said he was instructed to report to the airline’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), Isidre Porqueras.
Rikhye has been serving as an employee of the airline for over 11 years. He previously held the role of Chief Pilot – Standards, Quality Assurance and Operations Safety. Meanwhile, current OCC chief Herter is leaving the airline.
According to the communication seen PTIRikhye was given the responsibility of leading the OCC, which manages real-time coordination and oversight of flight operations, including flight planning, tracking and dispatch, in compliance with regulatory requirements such as air traffic control rules and safety guidelines.
He would also oversee crew planning and assignment. “I am confident that his current and past experience will assist him in managing his new role,” the communication document said. The statement was included.
Indigo lost market share due to crisis
On January 22, Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma appeared on stage on behalf of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and DGCA and stated that various steps were taken by the authorities in the wake of the crisis.
A senior vice president of the airline was told to be fired and fined $100. ₹He also said that a fine of Rs 22 crore was levied, the news agency reported.
Mint It had earlier reported that IndiGo lost 4% of its domestic market share in December following major flight disruption that month due to the government’s updated flight duty norms.
According to DGCA’s monthly traffic data, IndiGo’s market share dropped to 59.6% in December 2025 compared to 63.6% market share levels in November 2025.
