logo
Air India to suspend services to Washington, DC from September 1

Air India to suspend services to Washington, DC from September 1

Times of Omana day ago
New Delhi: Air India on Monday announced the suspension of its services between Delhi and Washington DC, effective September 1, due to a combination of operational factors, to ensure the reliability and integrity of the airline's overall route network.
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, aimed at significantly enhancing customer experience, necessitates a prolonged unavailability of multiple aircraft at any given time until at least the end of 2026.
That, coupled with the continued closure of airspace over Pakistan, impacts the airline's long-haul operations, leading to longer flight routings and increased operational complexity.
Customers with Air India bookings to or from Washington, DC, beyond September 1, 2025, 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 airlines 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.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

India, Singapore to "review progress" and "deepen cooperation" at 3rd ministerial roundtable in New Delhi
India, Singapore to "review progress" and "deepen cooperation" at 3rd ministerial roundtable in New Delhi

Times of Oman

timean hour ago

  • Times of Oman

India, Singapore to "review progress" and "deepen cooperation" at 3rd ministerial roundtable in New Delhi

Singapore City: The third India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable (ISMR) will be held in New Delhi on August 13, marking an important ministerial-level platform to drive cooperation in new and emerging areas between the two countries, according to an official statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in Singapore. The third ISMR will review the progress made since the second roundtable held in Singapore in August 2024 and identify new growth opportunities to deepen bilateral collaboration, the statement added. Leading the Singapore delegation is Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong. The delegation also includes Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam, Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo, Minister for Manpower and Minister-in-charge of Energy and Science and Technology Tan See Leng, and Acting Minister for Transport and Senior Minister of State for Finance Jeffrey Siow. The Indian delegation comprises Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar, Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, and Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, Railways, and Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw. This roundtable continues the momentum of high-level visits and exchanges between India and Singapore, coinciding with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2025. The milestone reflects the importance both nations place on their bilateral ties and joint commitment to expand collaboration for mutual benefit, the statement said. Singapore-India relations are deep and broad-based, with 2025 marking the 10th anniversary of the Strategic Partnership. Earlier this year, Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam visited India, meeting President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In September 2024, Prime Minister Modi visited Singapore, engaging with Singapore's President, Prime Minister, and other leaders. During that visit, both countries agreed to elevate their relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, reflecting growing ties. Economic cooperation remains a key pillar, anchored by the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) signed in 2005. Bilateral trade has grown from S$20 billion in 2005 to S$52.2 billion in 2023. Singapore is India's top foreign investor, accounting for 24 per cent of India's FDI equity inflows since 2000. Indian investments in Singapore have also grown from S$481 million in 2004 to about S$31.6 billion in 2023. Singapore companies are actively investing in India's sectors such as manufacturing, sustainability, data centres, and technology innovation. Singapore also serves as the regional hub for many Indian start-ups, especially in fintech and healthtech. On sustainability, both nations collaborate on next-generation industrial parks promoting economic growth and low-carbon development, including a jointly developed Framework for "Net Zero Industrial Parks" with Tamil Nadu, launched in June 2025. In digitalisation, the Monetary Authority of Singapore and the Reserve Bank of India launched a real-time payments linkage between PayNow and India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in February 2023, enabling instant fund transfers. Capital market cooperation advanced through the NSE-SGX GIFT Connect, a derivatives trading linkage established in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City, the first of its kind between Singapore and India. Plans are underway to explore cross-border data flows via a pilot corridor in GIFT City. Cybersecurity collaboration is also growing, highlighted by the first India-Singapore Cyber Policy Dialogue in October 2024, where agencies exchanged views on national cyber strategies and cooperation. Skills development remains a focus, with Singapore's Institute of Technical Education Services (ITEES) setting up five skills centres in India and expanding partnerships with Odisha and Assam to enhance training in semiconductors, aerospace, AI, and capacity-building programmes. A Joint Flagship Programme for Skills Training is being established to target sectors of mutual strategic interest, ensuring alignment with industry needs through private sector collaboration. In advanced manufacturing, cooperation in semiconductor manufacturing is strengthening. The India-Singapore Semiconductor Ecosystem Partnership MOU, signed during Prime Minister Modi's 2024 visit, promotes policy exchanges on ecosystem development, supply chain resilience, and workforce growth. Connectivity between the two nations is robust, with Singapore's PSA operating four maritime terminals in India for over 25 years. Singapore Airlines owns a 25.1% stake in Air India, and SIA Engineering plans collaboration to develop maintenance, repair, and overhaul facilities supporting Air India's expanding fleet. Additionally, both countries aim to establish a Green and Digital Shipping Corridor to facilitate sustainable shipping and the trading of green fuels.

India's retail inflation eases to 1.55% in July 2025, lowest since June 2017
India's retail inflation eases to 1.55% in July 2025, lowest since June 2017

Times of Oman

timean hour ago

  • Times of Oman

India's retail inflation eases to 1.55% in July 2025, lowest since June 2017

New Delhi: India's retail inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), eased sharply to 1.55 per cent in July 2025 on a year-on-year basis, marking the lowest level since June 2017, according to data released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation on Tuesday. The decline of 55 basis points from June 2025's headline inflation reflects easing prices across key categories and a favorable base effect. Food inflation, based on the Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI), dropped further into negative territory at -1.76 per cent in July, compared to -1.01 per cent in June. This marks the lowest level of food inflation since January 2019. The fall is attributed to a broad-based decline in prices of pulses and products, vegetables, cereals, eggs, sugar and confectionery, as well as transport and communication services. In rural areas, headline inflation fell to 1.18 per cent in July from 1.72 per cent in June, while rural food inflation declined to -1.74 per cent from -0.87 per cent over the same period. Urban inflation also eased, falling to 2.05 per cent in July from 2.56 per cent in June, with urban food inflation slipping further to -1.90 per cent from -1.17 per cent. Sector-wise, the housing inflation rate stood at 3.17 per cent in July, nearly unchanged from 3.18% in June. Education inflation eased to 4.00 per cent in July from 4.37 per cent a month earlier. Health inflation, however, edged up slightly to 4.57 per cent from 4.38 per cent in June. A notable decline was recorded in the transport and communication category, where inflation fell sharply to 2.12 per cent in July from 3.90 per cent in June. Fuel and light inflation inched up to 2.67 per cent, compared to 2.55 per cent in the previous month. The sharp moderation in both headline and food inflation is expected to provide some relief to policymakers and consumers, particularly in a period of global economic uncertainty.

Salalah Airport records growth in aircraft, passenger traffic during Khareef Season
Salalah Airport records growth in aircraft, passenger traffic during Khareef Season

Times of Oman

timean hour ago

  • Times of Oman

Salalah Airport records growth in aircraft, passenger traffic during Khareef Season

Salalah: Salalah Airport has recorded growth in both aircraft movements and passenger numbers during the Khareef Dhofar (monsoon) season 2025, for the period from 21 June to 3 August 2025, compared to the same period last year. Data released by Oman Airports shows that total aircraft movements increased by 16 percent, reaching 1,849 flights compared to 1,592 flights in the 2024 season. Total passenger numbers also grew by 5 percent, reaching 288,110 passengers compared to 274,030 passengers last year. Arrival traffic saw an increase in the number of flights from 795 in 2024 to 925 in 2025, a 16 percent growth. The number of arriving passengers rose by 3 percent to 158,301, compared to 153,378 passengers last year. Departure traffic also registered a 16 percent increase in flights, from 797 to 924 flights. The number of departing passengers grew by 8 percent, reaching 129,809, compared to 120,652 passengers during the last season. Oman Airports has worked to provide a smooth and comfortable travel experience for passengers by implementing the latest technologies to streamline procedures, expanding the capacity of airport lounges, and offering diverse hospitality and commercial services. This also includes the launch of the "Safar Ashal" (Easier Travel) initiative, which allows passengers to complete travel procedures directly from their cars, saving time and enhancing convenience. The growth in aircraft and passenger traffic reflects the increasing tourist demand for Dhofar Governorate during the Khareef season. This is attributed to its mild weather and seasonal rains, in addition to the heritage, cultural, and recreational events that contribute to reinforcing the governorate's position as a comprehensive tourist destination. This trend is expected to continue in the coming days, coinciding with ongoing events and the rising number of visitors to Dhofar.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store