- Air India halts Delhi–Washington DC non-stop services from September 1, 2025, due to fleet shortage and airspace restrictions.
- Major retrofit of 26 Boeing 787-8 aircraft will keep planes grounded until at least late 2026.
- Passengers will be rebooked via U.S. gateway cities or offered full refunds.
Air India will suspend its direct flights between Delhi and Washington, D.C. starting September 1, 2025, citing operational constraints. The move is primarily driven by the airline’s ongoing retrofit programme for 26 Boeing 787-8 aircraft, which aims to upgrade cabins and improve passenger experience.
The suspension is further compounded by Pakistan’s airspace restrictions, which have prolonged and complicated long-haul routes to North America.
Operational Crunch Forces Air India to Pause Delhi–Washington Flights Until 2026
Air India’s fleet overhaul marks one of the largest retrofitting efforts in the airline’s history. Beginning in July 2025, the programme will progressively remove multiple aircraft from service as engineers install upgraded seating, modern in-flight entertainment, and redesigned cabin layouts. The investment underscores Air India’s commitment to elevating its long-haul service standards in a competitive market.
The impact of Pakistan’s continued airspace closure cannot be overlooked. Without access to shorter flight corridors, routes between India and the United States face longer flying times, higher fuel costs, and operational complexities. This limitation has prompted Air India to reallocate resources to routes less affected by these constraints.
Passengers booked after the suspension date will not be left stranded. Air India has assured travellers that they will have access to rebooking options through U.S. gateway cities with seamless baggage transfers. Refunds will also be available for those preferring to cancel their travel plans.
While Washington, D.C. flights are paused, Air India will focus on maintaining its strong North American footprint through cities like Toronto, Vancouver, New York, Newark, Chicago, and San Francisco. These routes will continue to support the airline’s transatlantic growth while the retrofit project progresses.
Air India’s pause on the Delhi–Washington route reflects both the challenges of large-scale fleet upgrades and the realities of geopolitical airspace restrictions.
“In aviation, reliability is as vital as speed — sometimes stepping back ensures the journey ahead is stronger.”
