AI to suspend Delhi–Washington flights from Sept over fleet shortfall, airspace closure

Air India will halt services between Delhi and Washington DC from 1 September, citing a combination of operational challenges, including a shortage of Boeing 787-8 aircraft undergoing major refurbishment and the continued closure of Pakistani airspace to Indian carriers.

The Tata Group-owned airline confirmed the decision on Monday, stating the move was intended to “ensure the reliability and integrity of Air India’s overall route network”.

The thrice-weekly service currently operates via Vienna for a technical stop, having originally been a direct flight. The detour became necessary after Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian flights in April last year, significantly extending flight times for westbound departures from northern India.

Air India’s Boeing 787-8 aircraft, inherited from its days under government ownership, are central to the Delhi–Washington route. However, the carrier last month began retrofitting 26 of these jets as part of a $400 million fleet modernisation programme.

The extensive upgrade, which will see cabins revamped and critical systems replaced, is scheduled to run until at least late 2026, meaning several aircraft will remain grounded at any given time.

Passengers with bookings beyond 1 September will be offered rebooking on alternative services or full refunds. The airline will continue to provide one-stop connections to Washington through its U.S. gateways—New York (JFK), Newark, Chicago and San Francisco—via interline partners Alaska Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines, enabling seamless itineraries and through-checked baggage.

Although Air India has not confirmed how long the suspension will last, schedule data suggests the route could remain grounded well into next year. The airline had previously been considering increasing frequency to five flights per week.

The closure of Pakistani airspace has already forced Air India to add technical halts to several of its North America-bound flights, though most have since reverted to non-stop operations through alternative routings. The Delhi–Washington service is among the few still reliant on an intermediate stop.

Compounding matters, the fatal crash of an Air India Boeing 787-8 in Ahmedabad on 12 June prompted heightened safety checks across the fleet. The carrier introduced a voluntary “safety pause” and additional pre-departure inspections for its wide-body aircraft, temporarily scaling back its international schedule. Normal operations are expected to resume from 1 October.

Air India’s refurbishment drive began last September with 27 legacy narrow-body aircraft, expected to be completed by this month. The second phase, now underway, focuses on the 787 fleet, with work due to finish by mid-2027. A similar programme for its Boeing 777s will commence in January 2027, completing by October 2028.