Air India has announced that it is going to suspend its non-stop flights between Delhi and Washington D.C. from September 1, 2025. The decision comes in light of operational challenges associated with a large fleet upgrade and current airspace restrictions.
the airline said that the suspension is due to a planned shortfall in its fleet. As 26 Boeing 787-8 aircraft undergo a retrofitting process.
The upgrade aims to enhance the passenger experience, was launched last month. “The suspension is primarily driven by the planned shortfall in Air India’s fleet, as the airline commenced retrofitting 26 of its Boeing 787-8 aircraft last month. This extensive retrofit program, aimed at significantly enhancing customer experience, necessitates a prolonged unavailability of multiple aircraft at any given time until at least the end of 2026,” the airline said in a statement.
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The closure of Pakistani airspace has also added to the difficulty, as now Air India has to take longer routes for some international travel destinations. This impacts the operational complexities for long-haul flights like the Delhi-Washington route.
“That, coupled with the continued closure of airspace over Pakistan, impacts the airline’s long-haul operations, leading to longer flight routings and increased operational complexity,” the statement added.
Those who have bookings on the Delhi-Washington flights will be contacted after September 1. They will be offered options to rebook on other flights and get a complete refund.
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Travellers can also reach Washington by taking connecting flights via US hubs like New York, Chicago and San Francisco.
These connections are facilitated with partnerships with Alaska Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Airlines.
However, Air India will maintain flights between India and six other North American destinations, including Toronto and Vancouver.
