IndiGo hires Nik Laming to head loyalty program as its eyes ramp up
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. IndiGo, the largest airline in India by market share, has appointed veteran of loyalty programmes Nik Laming to lead its frequent-flyer business, as the airline seeks to shift from its low-cost roots to defend its market share against feisty Air India. Laming, a Singapore-based consultant with over 30 years of experience, joins at a critical time.
While InterGlobe Aviation Ltd.-operated IndiGo flew 124 million passengers in 2025, it faced a 2% dip in market share in November and a record ₹22.2 crore fine in December following operational issues. The recruitment marks a shift for IndiGo as it scales its BluChip programme in order to compete with Air India’s Maharaja Club. Since the September 2024 launch, BluChip has brought in 10 million members, reflecting the carrier’s urgency to secure customer stickiness amid its international expansion and the introduction of premium services.
The move comes as the global travel loyalty market is projected to hit $52.6 billion by 2030. For IndiGo, which recently introduced business-class ‘Stretch’ cabins, a robust loyalty driver has become a necessity to transition from a budget airline to a global contender. “The search for a loyalty head started 8-9 months ago, and the airline was looking globally for a candidate who could build a programme that would bring them repeat customers," said an industry executive aware of the development.
The civil aviation regulator, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), is yet to release December passenger traffic numbers. According to the executive mentioned above, Laming was onboarded about a month ago. While Indigo did not respond to Mint’s queries, Laming has yet to respond to Mint’s queries via LinkedIn.
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