The decision has been taken due to unavailability of multiple aircraft and the closure of Pakistan's airspace.
Air India To Suspend Services To Washington, DC Latest News
GURUGRAM, 11 August 2025: Air India on Monday announced the suspension of its services between Delhi and Washington, D.C., starting September 1, 2025, and the services will not be available ‘at any given time until at least end of 2026.’
The decision has been taken due to unavailability of multiple aircraft and the closure of Pakistan’s airspace.
“India on Monday announced the suspension of its services…due to a combination of ‘operational factors, to ensure the reliability and integrity of Air India’s overall route network,” the airline said in a press release.
The suspension is primarily driven by a “planned shortfall” in Air India’s fleet. The airline said that is has commenced retrofitting 26 of its Boeing 787-8 aircraft last month; therefore, this ‘extensive’ retrofit programme, aimed at significantly “enhancing customer experience” has necessitated a prolonged unavailability of multiple aircraft at any given time until at least the 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 statement further read.
The airline has assured that the customers with Air India bookings to or from Washington, D.C. beyond September 1, 2025 will be contacted and offered alternative travel arrangements, including rebooking on other flights or full refunds, as per their individual preferences.
The Airline noted, “Air India customers will continue to have the options of one-stop flights to Washington, D.C. via four U.S. 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.”
Air India will continue to operate non-stop flights between India and six destinations in North America, including Toronto and Vancouver in Canada.
About Air India group
The Air India group employs more than 30,000 people, operates over 300 aircraft and carries customers to 55 domestic and 48 international destinations across five continents.
Returning to the Tata Sons in 2022 following 70 years under Government ownership, the Air India group is in the midst of a five-year transformation program, Vihaan.AI. As part of the transformation, Air India has placed an order for 570 new aircraft.
In 2024, sister airlines Air Asia India and Vistara were successfully merged into Air India Express and Air India, respectively, and the Airline opened South Asia’s largest aviation training academy. A new flying school is scheduled to open in 2025, and construction of a greenfield maintenance base, to be operational in 2026, is underway. In addition to receiving new aircraft, all existing aircraft are progressively undergoing a full interior refit.
“Air India is committed to being a world-class global airline with an Indian heart,” said in the press release.
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