GURUGRAM- India’s largest carrier, IndiGo Airlines (6E) has been headed by CEO Pieter Elbers for over 2 years and is making some remarkable reforms.
Before we find out the exact salary IndiGo Airlines pays to Pieter Elbers, let’s see his background and other details.
Who is Pieter Elbers?
Pieter Elbers, born in Schiedam, South Holland, attended De Singel Primo Schiedam for elementary school.
He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Logistics Management from Fontys University of Applied Sciences in Venlo and later completed a Master’s in Business Administration at the Open University of the Netherlands. His studies also included time abroad in New York City and Beijing.
Pieter Elbers’ aviation career spans over three decades, beginning at KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL) in 1992. His initial role as supervisor of aircraft loading at Schiphol hub marked the start of his ascent through the company’s ranks.
The executive’s international experience crystallized through his six-year tenure in various global markets. Elbers served as general and sales manager across strategic locations including Japan, Greece, and Italy, building crucial market expertise. Upon returning to The Netherlands, he advanced to Senior Vice President of Network & Alliances.
Elbers played an instrumental role in KLM’s integration into the SkyTeam airline alliance, demonstrating his strategic acumen. His leadership capabilities earned him a position on the Air France-KLM Group’s executive committee. His influence extended beyond aviation through board memberships at Marfo B.V. and the Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers.
KLM elevated Elbers to President and CEO in October 2014, succeeding Camiel Eurlings. His tenure witnessed significant developments, including the Dutch government’s acquisition of a 14% stake in 2019 to safeguard national interests. By early 2022, KLM announced Elbers’ planned departure, confirming he would not pursue a third term, with his resignation set for May 2023.
The aviation executive’s career took a new direction when IndiGo, India’s largest airline, appointed him as CEO in June 2022. Elbers assumed leadership of IndiGo on September 6, 2022, replacing retiring CEO Ronojoy Dutta, marking a significant shift in his career from European to Asian aviation markets.
Pieters Elbers Compensation at KLM
KLM’s former Chief Executive Officer Pieter Elbers received a total compensation package of 1.4 million euros (Over 12 Crore INR) in 2022. The package consists of 480,543 euros in salary for nine months of service and a transition payment of 894,214 euros, as disclosed in KLM’s annual report.
The airline incurred an additional tax burden of 619,100 euros on the severance payment, according to the report initially covered by De Telegraaf.
A court ruling in October 2022 affirmed Elbers’ entitlement to both the severance payment and deferred bonuses from the pre-pandemic period. KLM and Elbers jointly sought judicial clarification regarding permissible payments under the state aid restrictions.
The court determined that Elbers’ transition payment did not violate the government’s conditions for pandemic-related state support, which had prohibited bonus payments while the airline received public assistance.
The termination of Elbers’ employment contract emerged from “proper consultation” with KLM’s Supervisory Board at the beginning of 2022.
IndiGo Airlines CEO Salary
After leaving KLM, Pieter Elbers joined IndiGo Airlines in June 2022 as Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
In March 2023, Pieter Elbers received 67,150 performance stock units or PSUs worth 12.52 Crore INR (1.42 Million Euro), similar to his compensation package at KLM.
These PSUs are in addition to his annual salary. The exact figures are not disclosed but they can be close to 5 Crore INR (500K Euros). So the overall compensation package including salary, Performance Stocks Unit, and other bonuses can be close to 17 Crore INR (Close to 2 Million Euros).
In 2025, IndiGo Airlines is likely to receive more than 2 million in overall compensation, and if the FY24-25 results are more profitable then he is likely to receive additional PSUs.
IndiGo Financial Results Since 2022
Following are the brief details on the Financials performance of InterGlobe Aviation, the parent of IndiGo Airlines since Pieter Elbers joined the airline:
IndiGo Airlines Financials for 2022-23
IndiGo Airlines demonstrated strong financial recovery in FY2023, with revenue from operations surging 110% to reach 544,465 million rupees compared to the previous fiscal year. The airline’s EBITDAR margin improved significantly, increasing by 18.3 percentage points to 13.4% in FY2023.
Despite the substantial revenue growth, the airline recorded a loss after tax of 3,058 million rupees, though this represents an improvement from the larger losses seen in previous years. A notable strength in the company’s financial position is its cash reserves, which grew by 28.5% to 234,243 million rupees, indicating robust liquidity management.
IndiGo Airlines Financials for 2023-24
- ₹689,043 million: Revenue from operations (26.6% growth)
- ₹175,447 million: EBITDAR (140% growth)
- ₹81,725 million: Profit after tax
- ₹212: Earnings per share
Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.
Join us on Telegram Group for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on Google News
The post IndiGo Airlines CEO Pieter Elbers Salary in 2025 appeared first on Aviation A2Z.