IndiGo CEO in damage control mode over rift

A day after reports of a rift between IndiGo promoters surfaced, the airline's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Rono Dutta played down the issue and said that the growth plan remains intact for the carrier.

In a letter to the employees on Thursday, Dutta said: "I want to assure you that the growth strategy of the airline remains unchanged and firmly in place, and the management is fully charged by the Board to implement it."

"We will continue our focus on creating value for all our shareholders, our customers, our employees and the communities we serve," the CEO said while thanking the employees for their dedication.

Dutta also advised the employees to direct media queries on any issue to the concerned department to ensure that appropriate response is given.

Dutta is considered close to the airline co-founder Rakesh Gangwal and was hand-picked to steer IndiGo's expansion plan.

Differences between co-founders Rahul Bhatia and Gangwal first surfaced last year over managerial control of the firm.

After the rift surfaced on Tuesday, an IndiGo spokesperson told IANS that the company does not comment on market speculation.

The report comes close on the heels of sharp differences between Jet Airways promoter Naresh Goyal and minority partner Etihad. The sour relations eventually resulted in a severe crisis and grounding of the carrier.

--IANS

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