Air India has announced that it will suspend its non-stop flight operations between New Delhi and Washington, D.C., effective September 1, 2025. The decision has been attributed primarily to operational challenges arising from a temporary shortage of aircraft, as the airline continues to retrofit 26 of its Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners—a modernization effort expected to last until late 2026—alongside prolonged closure of Pakistani airspace impacting route efficiency and flight durations.
The retrofit initiative, estimated to cost around $400 million, has temporarily reduced the airline’s long-haul fleet availability. Meanwhile, Pakistani airspace remains closed, forcing Air India to reroute flights via longer trajectories and make refueling stops—most notably in Europe—which increases flight times, fuel consumption, and operational complexity. The airline estimates these detours could result in losses of up to $600 million annually.
For affected passengers, Air India has confirmed that all bookings on the Delhi–Washington route beyond September 1 will be proactively addressed. Travelers will be offered the option of full ticket refunds or rebooking on alternate itineraries.
Despite the suspension of the direct route, connectivity to Washington, D.C., will continue via one-stop options. These will be operated through interline partnerships with Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines, offering connections from U.S. gateways including New York (JFK), Newark (EWR), Chicago (ORD), and San Francisco (SFO)—all under single-ticket fares and checked baggage protocols.
Air India reassures passengers that its non-stop flights to other North American cities—including several in Canada—will remain unaffected. The airline continues to operate direct services to destinations such as Toronto and Vancouver and aims to optimize its limited long-haul fleet capacity during the retrofit period.
This strategic route adjustment appears designed to balance safety, operational reliability, and fleet modernization. By reallocating aircraft capacity to high-demand North American routes served by larger, more efficient planes (e.g., Airbus A350s and Boeing 777s), Air India positions itself to preserve service continuity during this intensive phase of its fleet upgrade.
