IndiGo on May 28 announced that Ton Dortmans, a former Executive Vice President of Netherlands’ flag carrier KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, is set to join the budget carrier in August this year.
Dortmans will support the technical entry into service of IndiGo's A350, as well as support the building of IndiGo’s overall MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) strategy C capabilities, the firm said.
IndiGo said that its widebody Airbus A350 are expected to be delivered by the beginning of 2027. The operation and maintenance of the wide-body aircraft, powered by Rolls Royce engines, will be new for the airline, it added.
"In addition, given the growing fleet-size of IndiGo (today already over 400 aircraft) and the 900+ aircraft still on order, IndiGo is committed to build up more and broad capabilities in- house in India around various MRO activities. In 2023 IndiGo opened already it’s second hangar in Bengaluru," the company further said.
Speaking about Dortmans' appointment, IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers said, "Ton has a wealth of experience in the field of MRO and wide-body airline operations that IndiGo will benefit from. At IndiGo, we are delightful and grateful that, post retiring from his illustrious KLM career, Ton will join us to support IndiGo’s team for the next phase to become a Global Aviation player. The opportunity to develop such MRO capabilities inhouse for IndiGo in India with home-grown talent and the volumes of our operation was just not to be missed."
Earlier during the day, IndiGo had announced the appointment of Vikram Singh Mehta as the Chairman of its board. Mehta will succeed Venkataramani Sumantran who stepped down from the post after the end of his five-year term as a board member.
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