Air India announced on Monday that it will suspend its services between Delhi and Washington, D.C., effective September 1, 2025, citing a combination of operational factors to maintain the reliability and integrity of its overall route network.
The suspension is primarily due to a planned shortfall in Air India’s fleet, as the airline began retrofitting 26 of its Boeing 787-8 aircraft last month. The extensive retrofit programme, designed to significantly enhance customer experience, will keep multiple aircraft out of service at any given time until at least the end of 2026.
Adding to the challenge, the continued closure of Pakistani airspace has forced longer flight routings for Air India’s long-haul operations, increasing operational complexity and impacting schedules.
Customers with bookings to or from Washington, D.C., beyond September 1 will be contacted by the airline and offered alternative travel arrangements, including rebooking on other flights or full refunds.
Air India confirmed that passengers will still have the option of one-stop flights to Washington, D.C., via four U.S. gateways — New York (JFK), Newark (EWR), Chicago, and San Francisco — through its interline partners Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines. This will allow customers to travel on a single itinerary with their baggage checked through to the final destination.
The airline also stated that it will continue operating non-stop flights between India and six destinations in North America, including Toronto and Vancouver in Canada.
