Latest news with #PakistanAirspace
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Major Airline Announces Temporary Stop on Direct Flights From Delhi to Washington DC
Passengers looking to fly directly from Delhi, India to the U.S. Capitol will want to book a flight with an airline aside from Air India. Air India announced Aug. 11, 2025 that it would be suspending direct flights to Washington DC. Airplane Upgrade and Airspace Closure to Blame The airline "primarily" blamed an upgrade program on its fleet of 26 Boeing 787-8 jets that began in July for the delay. But Air India also pointed to the fact that Pakistan's airspace has been continually closed to Indian flights. The suspension is set to begin Sept. 1, 2025, and will likely end at the earliest by the end of 2026, according to the company's official announcement. Air India customers who have already booked direct flights to DC for after the suspension date will be offered alternative travel arrangements, which could include booking other flights or full refunds. The company's fleet of 787-8s is undergoing an upgrade program to improve the "customer experience," and "necessitates a prolonged unavailability of multiple aircraft at any given time until at least end of 2026." The Pakistan airspace closure to Indian flights is a little more complicated. More Details on the Airspace Closure The two countries have been at odds for decades, but the latest conflict began on April 22, 2025 with a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, India that killed 26. India the next day in response suspended a treaty it had signed with Pakistan and shutdown a main land border crossing between the two countries, according to The Hindu. Pakistan April 24 then closed its airspace to Indian flights, and India closed its airspace to Pakistani flights on April 30. Both countries have extended the airspace closures since then. Air India is expected to face around $600 million in extra costs because of the airspace closure, and has asked the Indian government for financial assistance while the conflict continues, according to The Independent. Related: Alaska Airlines Cuts 4 Routes in Major Shakeup Major Airline Announces Temporary Stop on Direct Flights From Delhi to Washington DC first appeared on Men's Journal on Aug 11, 2025
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Why is Air India suspending flights between New Delhi and Washington DC?
Air India is suspending services between New Delhi and Washington, D.C., starting on Sept. 1 due to aircraft shortages stemming from upgrades to its Boeing fleet and the ongoing ban on Indian carriers in Pakistan's airspace. The company announced on Aug. 11 that the suspension is "due to a combination of operational factors, to ensure the reliability and integrity of Air India'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," the company said in a news release, adding this "extensive retrofit program, aimed at significantly enhancing customer experience," will result in unavailability of multiple aircrafts until at least end of 2026. Ban on Indian carriers in Pakistan's airspace In addition to its fleet upgrade, the closure of airspace over Pakistan "impacts the airline's long-haul operations, leading to longer flight routings and increased operational complexity," the news release said. The airspace ban is estimated to cost Air India about $600 million over 12 months, Reuters and Pakistan closed their airspaces to each other days after relations nosedived following a fatal attack on civilians in Indian Kashmir in April. New Delhi has blamed Islamabad for the attack, which Islamabad denies. Options for Air India customers While there will no direct flights between the two capitals, Air India customers will have the option to choose flights to Washington, D.C., with layovers in New York, Newark, Chicago and San Francisco with the airline's 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," the news release said. The airline will also continue to "operate non-stop flights between India and six destinations in North America, including Toronto and Vancouver in Canada." Customers booked on flights 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, as per their individual preferences, the airline said. Phones, jewelry, linens: Which products could cost more due to Trump's India tariffs? Air India woes The suspension also comes as Air India faces heightened regulatory scrutiny after a June crash of one of its Boeing planes in Ahmedabad killed 260 people. Meanwhile, passengers on a recent Air India flight from San Francisco to Mumbai via Kolkata encountered some unwelcome visitors early this month. "On flight AI180 from San Francisco to Mumbai via Kolkata, two passengers were unfortunately bothered by the presence of a few small cockroaches on board," a spokesperson for the airline previously told USA TODAY in a statement Aug. 5. They notified a crew member who relocated them to different seats, where they were "comfortable thereafter," the airline continued. During the scheduled fuel stop at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata, the aircraft was deep cleaned by the ground crew to address the issue, and continued its journey to Mumbai as scheduled. "Despite our regular fumigation efforts, insects can sometimes enter an aircraft during ground operations," the airline added. "Air India will be undertaking a comprehensive investigation to determine the source and the cause of this incident and implement measures to prevent recurrence. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused to the passengers." Contributing: Reuters / Joey Garrison, Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@ and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Air India suspends flights between New Delhi and Washington D.C.
Khaleej Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Air India suspends service on US route from September 1
Air India announced on August 11 that it would suspend services between New Delhi and Washington D.C. in the US from September 1, 2025. In a statement sent to the media, and published by PTI, the airline said that the suspension is "due to a combination of operational factors". Air India last month started retrofitting 26 of its Boeing 787-8 aircraft. As a result, its fleet is sustaining a shortage of vehicles "at least until the end of 2026." The statement also cites the ongoing closure of Pakistan's airspace as a complexity that impacts long-haul flight routes. Customers who have already purchased tickets on this sector will be "offered alternative travel arrangements, including rebooking on other flights or full refunds, as per their individual preferences," said the airline. Other routes to Washington D.C. from Delhi are operational. Air India has one-stop flights via New York, Newark, Chicago and San Francisco, as they partner with local airlines. This means customers can check their bags through to their final destination of Washington D.C. if they opt for these routes.
