Air India will suspend its non-stop services between Delhi and Washington, D.C. from Sept. 1, 2025, citing aircraft shortages from a major cabin retrofit programme and longer flight routings caused by Pakistan’s continued airspace closure.
The Tata Group-owned carrier said 26 Boeing 787-8 jets have been taken out of service in phases since last month for interior upgrades, with the work set to continue until late 2026. The unavailability of multiple aircraft at once, combined with operational challenges on long-haul routes, prompted the move.
Passengers booked beyond Sept. 1 will be offered rebooking on other flights or full refunds. The airline said travelers will still be able to reach Washington on one-stop itineraries via New York, Newark, Chicago and San Francisco, using partner carriers Alaska Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines.
Air India will continue to operate direct flights from India to six other North American cities, including Toronto and Vancouver.
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The suspension comes as the airline pursues a five-year transformation plan, Vihaan.AI, aimed at overhauling its fleet, expanding capacity and modernizing operations after returning to Tata control in 2022.
