Air India to halt non-stop Delhi–Washington flights from September amid fleet retrofit, Pakistan airspace closure
Air India will halt its Delhi-Washington, D.C. non-stop flights from September 2025 due to fleet retrofits and airspace restrictions. The airline is retrofitting its Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners, causing aircraft unavailability until late 2026. Pakistan's airspace closure adds to operational challenges, impacting long-haul routes. Affected passengers will be rebooked or refunded, while one-stop connections via other U.S. cities remain available.
IANS Tata Group-owned Air India on Monday said it is suspending its services between Delhi and Washington, D.C., effective from September 1, 2025, due to a combination of operational factors. Air India will suspend its non-stop services between Delhi and Washington, D.C. from September 1, 2025, citing operational constraints linked to a major fleet retrofit programme and ongoing airspace restrictions.The airline said the decision was taken 'to ensure the reliability and integrity of Air India's overall route network' as it began retrofitting 26 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners 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,' it added.Compounding the challenge, the 'continued closure of airspace over Pakistan impacts the airline's long-haul operations, leading to longer flight routings and increased operational complexity.'Affected passengers booked beyond September 1 will be contacted for alternative travel arrangements, which could include 'rebooking on other flights or full refunds, as per their individual preferences.' Air India will continue offering one-stop connections to Washington, D.C. via New York (JFK), Newark, Chicago, and San Francisco through interline agreements with Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines. These partnerships allow customers to 'travel on a single itinerary with their baggage checked through to the final destination.'Air India is navigating a multifaceted operational crisis. Since the June 12 crash of Flight 171, the airline has undergone stringent DGCA-mandated safety inspections of its Dreamliner fleet, prompting widespread cancellations and a temporary 15 % reduction in wide-body international operations through mid-July. Regulatory scrutiny has intensified following the airline receiving multiple formal warnings over lapses in crew fatigue management, training, and maintenance protocols.
Further complicating the landscape are network constraints from ongoing aircraft retrofits and regional airspace closures, notably over Pakistan, which have disrupted routes like Delhi–Washington and further strained fleet availability.Despite the Washington suspension, the airline said, it will maintain non-stop flights to six other North American destinations, including Toronto and Vancouver, alongside U.S. cities such as New York, Newark, Chicago, and San Francisco.The move comes as Air India executes its five-year Vihaan.AI transformation plan following its return to the Tata Group in 2022. The carrier has placed an order for 570 new aircraft and is progressively upgrading interiors across its fleet. The 787 retrofit is part of this overhaul, which also includes a new flying school in 2025 and a greenfield maintenance base set to open in 2026.The airline has not announced when the Washington service will resume, with the timing likely dependent on retrofit progress and any changes in overflight restrictions.
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