By Sangeeta Saxena
New Delhi. 02 June 2025. As the 81st Annual General Meeting of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) opened at the iconic Gandhi Mandapam in Pragati Maidan, the spotlight turned to IndiGo, India’s largest airline and official host carrier for the event. In a milestone moment, the AGM returned to India after 42 years, under the chairmanship of Pieter Elbers, CEO of IndiGo, who welcomed aviation leaders from across the globe with a message that reflected both personal pride and national aspiration.
“It is an immense honour to welcome you all to India, and to host the global aviation community at this historic gathering,” said Pieter Elbers. “This country has been my home for the past three years, and it’s been a privilege to witness the vibrancy and growth of its airline industry first-hand.” As Chair of the AGM and CEO of the host airline, Elbers the symbiotic relationship between aviation and economic progress. “Airlines and economies grow together. The connectivity we create—within India and beyond—drives development and prosperity,” he said. “We at IndiGo are especially proud to welcome IATA back to India after four decades.”
Recognising India’s rise as an aviation powerhouse, Elbers praised the government’s vision and policy leadership. “Thanks to the forward-looking policies of the Government of India under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, air connectivity has been brought to the doorstep of the common citizen,” he remarked. “From 74 airports in 2014 to nearly 150 today, India now ensures that about 90% of its population can reach a scheduled flight within two to three hours.”
Highlighting IndiGo’s support for national growth, Elbers noted: “Indian airlines now serve over 650 direct domestic city pairs—three times more than in 2015. It’s a testament to the sector’s evolution and the country’s commitment to expansion.”
Speaking on regulatory reforms and the ease of doing business, he added, “The alignment of aviation regulations with modern global standards by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and DGCA India reflects a shared commitment to enabling growth and simplifying operations for all aviation stakeholders.”
Elbers emphasised aviation as a shared calling across the industry. “For everyone in this room, aviation is not just a job—it’s a passion. We all take pride in the connections we help create between people and nations,” he stated. “I assure you on behalf of IndiGo and fellow Indian carriers, we are fully committed to supporting the government’s mission of bringing Indians closer to each other and India closer to the world.”
He also pointed out the scale of India’s fleet expansion. “The number of aircraft in Indian fleets has more than doubled in the last decade—from 400 to over 900—and we’ve placed record orders, including wide-bodies from both Airbus and Boeing,” Elbers said. “This is our commitment to a dynamic and growing market.”
Concluding his address, Elbers thanked Prime Minister Modi for gracing the occasion, as well as Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu and Minister of State Murlidhar Meena for their continued support. “It is a moment of pride for us all. Thank you to all delegates who travelled from around the world to join us here in Delhi,” he said.
