Air India to suspend Delhi-Washington direct flights from September 1

Air India on Monday said it will suspend its non-stop services between Delhi and Washington, D.C. from September 1, 2025, citing operational constraints arising from an ongoing fleet retrofit programme and continued closure of Pakistani airspace.

The airline said the suspension is necessitated by a planned shortfall in its fleet as it retrofits 26 Boeing 787-8 aircraft to upgrade interiors and enhance customer experience.

The extensive programme, which began last month, will keep multiple aircraft out of service at any given time until at least the end of 2026.

"That, coupled with the continued closure of airspace over Pakistan, impacts our long-haul operations, leading to longer flight routings and increased operational complexity," Air India said in a statement.

Passengers booked on the Delhi-Washington route beyond September 1 will be contacted and offered rebooking on alternate flights or full refunds.

Air India flyers can continue to travel to Washington with one-stop flights via New York (JFK), Newark (EWR), Chicago and San Francisco, through interline partners Alaska Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines, the airline said.

Air India will maintain non-stop flights to six destinations in North America, including Toronto and Vancouver in Canada.

The first 787-8 aircraft undergoing retrofit was sent to Boeing’s facility in Victorville, California, in July, with another to follow in October. Both are expected to return to service in December.

The upgrades will feature a three-class cabin layout with new seats, in-flight entertainment systems, carpets, curtains, lavatories and galleys.

The retrofit programme for the 787-8 fleet is expected to be completed by mid-2027, after which the airline will retrofit 13 Boeing 777-300ER aircraft by October 2028.

As part of a Reliability Enhancement Programme, the airline will also upgrade avionics and other critical components of its 787-8 fleet to the latest industry standards, along with heavy maintenance checks for seven aircraft, to reduce operational disruptions and ensure long-term performance.