Air India Suspends Delhi-Washington Nonstops From September Amid Fleet Retrofit

Air India announced it will suspend nonstop flights between Delhi and Washington, D.C. starting September 1, 2025, due to a shortage of aircraft caused by the retrofitting of 26 Boeing 787-8 planes and the ongoing closure of Pakistani airspace. This retrofit program, aimed at improving customer experience and operational reliability, is expected to continue until at least the end of 2026, leading to prolonged aircraft unavailability and longer flight routings. Passengers booked on these flights beyond the suspension date will be offered alternative travel options, including rebooking on one-stop flights via U.S. gateways such as New York, Newark, Chicago, and San Francisco through partner airlines, or full refunds. Despite the suspension, Air India will maintain nonstop services to six other North American destinations, including Toronto and Vancouver. The airline cited these operational challenges, along with the need to ensure the reliability of its overall route network, as reasons for the suspension. Additionally, international operations are expected to be fully restored by October 1, 2025, following safety enhancements and fleet upgrades.