Air India to suspend Washington-Delhi flights, blames planned fleet shortfall

Air India has decided to suspend its Delhi-Washington DC service blaming a planned shortfall in its fleet and the continued closure of airspace over Pakistan.  

The airline announced the move on August 11, 2025, confirming the service will cease from September 1, 2025, “due to a combination of operational factors, to ensure the reliability and integrity of Air India’s overall route network”. 

Explaining the decision, the carrier said that the “suspension is primarily driven by the planned shortfall in Air India’s fleet, as the airline commenced retrofitting 26 of its Boeing 787-8 aircraft last month”. 

“This extensive retrofit programme, aimed at significantly enhancing customer experience, necessitates a prolonged unavailability of multiple aircraft at any given time until at least end of 2026,” a spokesperson for Air India said.  

Additionally, Air India blamed restrictions over Pakistan’s airspace which are limiting the airline’s long-haul operations,” leading to longer flight routings and increased operational complexity”. 

Air India advised passengers that they can travel to Washington with stops at New York (JFK), Newark (EWR), Chicago, or San Francisco through its interline partnerships with Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines. 

‘Air India will continue to operate non-stop flights between India and six destinations in North America, including Toronto and Vancouver in Canada,” the spokesperson added.  

Customers with Air India bookings to or from Washington beyond September 1, 2025, will be contacted and offered alternative travel arrangements. 

RELATED

Air India launches $400M retrofit program for B787-8 Dreamliner fleet

The post Air India to suspend Washington-Delhi flights, blames planned fleet shortfall appeared first on AeroTime.

Go to Source