Air India To Suspend Delhi–Washington Flights From September

In a bid to maintain its route network, Air India is halting its non-stop service from September 1, citing an extensive fleet retrofit program and the closure of Pakistani airspace. Passengers with existing bookings will be offered alternative travel options, including one-stop connections through other US cities or a full refund.

August 11, 2025: Air India will suspend flying directly between Delhi and Washington, D.C. for a brief time starting on September 1, 2025. The airline said that the main reasons for the decision were problems with operations caused by a large fleet upgrade program and the fact that Pakistani airspace is still closed.

Air India’s large repair program for 26 of its Boeing 787-8 jets caused the stoppage. Last month, these modifications started, and they will probably last until the end of 2026. They are supposed to help people, yet they constantly need a lot of planes to be out of service. There aren’t enough planes right now to take the direct route. Because there isn’t much room in Pakistani airspace, the flight paths will have to be longer.

The airline will get in touch with people who bought tickets from Delhi to Washington after September 1. They will offer them other ways to get there, such as rebooking on a different route or receiving their money refunded. The airline says that people can still fly to Washington, D.C. with one-stop connections through big U.S. airports like New York (JFK), Newark (EWR), Chicago, and San Francisco. Air India’s interline partners, such Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines, will help make these flights easier.

Air India added that even if the flights were canceled for a short period, they would still fly nonstop between India and six other places in North America, like Toronto and Vancouver in Canada. The airline’s choice is part of a larger goal to make all of its routes “reliable and honest” and to make substantial changes to make them more modern.