Rahul Bhatia

IndiGo airlines commenced operations in 4 August 2006 and had its Initial Public Offering (IPO) in October 2015. After the listing of the airline on the Indian stock exchanges BSE and NSE, Forbes magazine declared him the twentieth richest person in India (jointly with his father Kapil Bhatia), with a net worth of $3.1 billion. India Today magazine ranked him #17th in India's 50 Most powerful people of 2017 list.

Rahul Bhatia was born in 1960 in Nainital, India. He attended the University of Waterloo and attained a Bachelor of Engineering degree. As a student, he worked for two years with IBM. Bhatia wanted to do PhD and become a teacher. He was, however, also involved in Information technology work for United Airlines and in 1985, in the airlines' head-office in Chicago, he met Rakesh Gangwal with whom he later co-founded IndiGo in 2006.

Rahul Bhatia, as a student worked for two years with IBM where he was involved in the pilot project to establish a fully automated screen manufacturing plant. His father, Kapil Bhatia used to run a travel agency by the name Delhi Express which fell into trouble while Rahul Bhatia was living in Canada. Rahul Bhatia returned to India and started his career as a businessman by establishing InterGlobe Enterprises in 1989, dealing with an air transport management. He soon diversified into other businesses and developed a number of travel and hospitality related businesses as well. InterGlobe Enterprises is a privately held corporate group which, apart from holding the airline, holds travel related businesses, chain of hotels in JV with AccorHotels and three restaurants in Gurgaon, Haryana. Along with Rakesh Gangwal, Rahul Bhatia co-founded IndiGo which commenced operations in August 2006.

Rahul Bhatia currently serves as the non-executive director of IndiGo and group managing director of InterGlobe Enterprises.

Rahul wanted to start an airline for many years and persuaded Rakesh Gangwal found the airline. Rakesh initially had no interest in starting an airline, but over dinner at Bhatia's house one evening he agreed to work with them to launch the airline.

Look, you guys decide how much money you want to lose. I will work with you. I don't want any part of this business. I will give you all my knowledge or whatever experience I have. But once you have lost that money, shake hands and remain friends

IndiGo placed firm order for 100 Airbus A320-200 aircraft in June 2005 with plans to commence operations in mid 2006. The airline took delivery of its first Airbus aircraft on 28 July 2006 and the operations commenced on 4th August 2006 with first flight operating from New Delhi to Guwahati further to Imphal, Manipur.

Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2010.

Economic Times Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2011.