Air India to suspend services from Delhi to Washington from September 1

The airlines said that the continued closure of airspace over Pakistan, impacts the airline’s long-haul operations, leading to longer flight routings and increased operational complexity.

Air India announced suspension of services from Delhi to Washington from September 1. The airlines said it is suspending the services from Delhi to Washington due to combination of operational factors.

"Air India today announced the suspension of its services between Delhi and Washington, D.C., effective September 1, 2025, due to a combination of operational factors, to ensure the reliability and integrity of Air India’s overall route network," the airlines said in a statement.

It 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, it said, is aimed at significantly enhancing customer experience and necessitates a prolonged unavailability of multiple aircraft at any given time until at least end of 2026.

The airlines also said that the continued closure of airspace over Pakistan, impacts the airline’s long-haul operations, leading to longer flight routings and increased operational complexity.

Pakistan had closed its airspace for Indian airplanes a day after India suspended the Indus Water Treaty on 23rd April in the aftermath of Pahalgam terror attack.

The airline said that the customers with bookings to or from Washington beyond September 1 will be contacted and offered alternative travel arrangements, including rebooking on other flights or full refunds, as per their individual preferences.

"Air India customers will continue to have the options of one-stop flights to Washington, DC via four US gateways – New York (JFK), Newark (EWR), Chicago, and San Francisco – with the airline’s interline partners, Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines, allowing customers to travel on a single itinerary with their baggage checked through to the final destination," it said.

It further clarified that Air India will continue to operate non-stop flights between India and six destinations in North America, including Toronto and Vancouver in Canada.