Air India will suspend its direct flights between New Delhi and Washington, DC, starting in September, citing a shortage of available aircraft and ongoing airspace restrictions over Pakistan.
The airline attributed the disruption to a fleet shortfall caused by ongoing retrofitting of its Boeing 787-8 aircraft, aimed at enhancing the customer experience. A total of 26 aircraft are undergoing upgrades, limiting availability through at least the end of 2026.
“This suspension is primarily driven by the planned shortfall in Air India’s fleet,” the airline said in a statement. “Additionally, the continued closure of Pakistan’s airspace affects the viability of our long-haul operations.”
The airspace ban was imposed after a fatal attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, which significantly worsened relations between India and Pakistan. New Delhi blames Islamabad for the attack—an accusation Pakistan denies. As a result, Indian carriers are forced to take longer, more costly flight paths. It was previously reported that the ban could cost Air India up to $600 million over a 12-month period.
With this suspension, no Indian airline will operate direct flights between the two capitals. The move comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions, including increased US tariffs on Indian goods under the Trump administration.
Air India, which was acquired by the Tata Group from the Indian government in 2022, is also under scrutiny following a deadly crash in June involving one of its Boeing aircraft in Ahmedabad that claimed 260 lives.
In the absence of direct flights, Air India passengers traveling to Washington, D.C., will be offered alternative routes via New York, Newark, Chicago, and San Francisco, through its airline partners: Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines.