August 12, 2025
NEW DELHI – Air India to suspend Delhi-Washington flights from September 1 due to operational factors, said a statement by the airline.
The suspension is mainly due to a planned shortfall in the airline’s fleet caused by the ongoing retrofit of 26 Boeing 787-8 aircraft, a project that began last month and aims to significantly improve the customer experience. This retrofit will keep several aircraft out of service until at least the end of 2026.
Additionally, the continued closure of Pakistani airspace forces longer flight routes and adds complexity to Air India’s long-haul operations.
Passengers with bookings for flights to or from Washington DC beyond September 1 will be contacted and offered alternative options, including rebooking on other flights or full refunds based on their preference.
Air India will still provide one-stop connections to Washington DC through US hubs like New York (JFK), Newark (EWR), Chicago, and San Francisco via partner airlines Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines, allowing passengers to travel on a single itinerary with through-checked baggage.
The airline will continue non-stop services between India and six other North American destinations, including Toronto and Vancouver in Canada.
Recent tensions between India and the United States have emerged over several diplomatic and strategic issues, including differing approaches to trade policies
Recently, the United States imposed increased tariffs on several Indian products.