Air India to Suspend Delhi-Washington D.C. Flights Due to Operational Factors
Air India also said that passengers bookings to or from Washington D.C. beyond September 1 will be contacted and offered alternative travel arrangements
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.
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 necessitates a prolonged unavailability of multiple aircraft at any given time until at least 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, the airline said in a statement.
Air India said customers with bookings to or from Washington beyond September 1 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 via four US gateways – New York (JFK), Newark (EWR), Chicago, and San Francisco – with the airline’s 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, the airline added.
Air India will continue to operate non-stop flights between India and six destinations in North America, including Toronto and Vancouver in Canada.
Air India on Sunday announced a widebody retrofit programme for its B787-8 aircraft, with the first of 26 aircraft (VT-ANT) having flown to a Boeing facility in Victorville, California in July 2025. A second aircraft is scheduled to depart for the same facility in October 2025, and both are expected to return to service in December 2025.
Air India will be upgrading the avionics and other critical components of the B787-8 aircraft up to the latest industry standards, thus improving their reliability. The programme entails the analysis of maintenance and configuration records for these aircraft, followed by the implementation of recommended modifications based on Boeing’s service information bulletins. This is intended to reduce operational disruptions for both, Air India and its customers, Air India said. Additionally, seven of the 26 B787-8s will undergo heavy, scheduled maintenance (D-checks) at Victorville, ensuring the fleet’s long-term operational excellence.
“The retrofit programme for Air India’s B787-8s, now on a steady schedule for completion by mid-2027, will introduce brand-new interiors featuring a three-class configuration with Business Class, Premium Economy, and Economy Class seats. This includes the installation of brand-new seats in each cabin, advanced inflight entertainment (IFE) systems, new carpeting, curtains, upholstery, lavatories, galleys and more - all aligned with the new Air India product and customer experience standards,” Air India said.
Starting in early 2027, Air India will additionally retrofit 13 of its Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, aiming for completion by October 2028, with the timeline having shifted due to supply chain delays.