• Air India to suspend nonstop flights between Delhi and Washington from September 1, 2025.
• The suspension is due to aircraft shortages caused by a fleet retrofit and Pakistan's airspace closure.
• Passengers will be offered alternative travel arrangements or full refunds.
• The airline's retrofit program aims to enhance customer experience but delays its fleet availability until 2026.

Air India has announced that it will suspend nonstop flights between New Delhi and Washington, D.C., effective September 1, 2025. The airline cited "a combination of operational factors," including a shortage of available aircraft caused by the ongoing retrofit program for its Boeing 787-8 fleet, which is expected to leave planes unavailable until at least the end of 2026. Additionally, the continuous closure of Pakistani airspace further complicates long-haul operations, resulting in longer flight routes and higher operational complexity, according to Indiatimes, Newsweek, and Dawn.

In its statement, Air India explained that the suspension will complicate travel between India and the United States, potentially increasing costs and affecting availability on alternative services. Passengers with bookings beyond the September 1 cutoff have been informed that they will be offered alternative travel arrangements, including the option for full refunds or rebooking on other flights, as stated by Newsweek and Dawn.

Air India's extensive retrofit program—costing approximately $400 million—intends to enhance the customer experience with upgraded interiors and improved inflight services. However, this initiative has delayed the return of multiple aircraft to service, and the ongoing ban on Pakistani airspace could potentially cost the airline around $600 million over the next year, according to Indiatimes, Newsweek, and Dawn.

While Air India will no longer operate direct flights to Washington, passengers will still have the option of one-stop flights via four major U.S. gateways—New York (JFK), Newark (EWR), Chicago, and San Francisco. Collaborations with interline partners such as Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines will allow travelers to check their baggage through to their final destination, as explained by Newsweek and Dawn.