IndiGo has appointed Captain Rohit Rikhye as its new Head of Operations Control Centre (OCC), replacing Jason Herter. This marks the airline’s first major senior-level change since the widespread operational disruptions it faced in December 2025, which led to significant regulatory scrutiny.
In January, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) took action against the airline, imposing fines totaling INR 22 crore and directing the removal of a senior vice-president. The airline had cancelled over 4,500 flights during the crisis, leaving lakhs of passengers stranded across major airports.
The operational meltdown was primarily attributed to an acute crew shortage following the rollout of new Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms. The changes affected crew availability and disrupted flight schedules across the network.
According to an internal communication, Rikhye will report to Chief Operating Officer Isidre Porqueras and take immediate charge of the OCC. A long-serving employee of over 11 years, he previously held the role of Chief Pilot — Standards, QA and Operations Safety.
As Head of OCC, Rikhye will oversee real-time coordination of flight operations, including flight planning, tracking, dispatch, and regulatory compliance. He will also supervise crew scheduling and rostering, aiming to stabilise operations and restore efficiency after the recent crisis.
