Air India will suspend its non-stop flights between New Delhi and Washington, D.C., starting September 1, 2025, affecting Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) who rely on this route for family visits, business travel, and cultural connections. The suspension, announced on August 11, is due to aircraft shortages from a major retrofit of 26 Boeing 787-8 aircraft and operational challenges caused by Pakistan’s airspace ban on Indian carriers.
The retrofit, aimed at enhancing passenger experience, will reduce Air India’s fleet availability until at least the end of 2026. Additionally, the airspace closure forces longer flight routes, increasing costs and complexity. This ban, costing Air India an estimated $600 million annually, stems from strained India-Pakistan relations.
For NRIs, the suspension disrupts a key direct link to India’s capital. Air India is offering alternative travel options, including flights with layovers in New York, Newark, Chicago, or San Francisco through partnerships with Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines. These itineraries ensure seamless baggage transfers. The airline will also maintain non-stop flights to six North American destinations, including Toronto and Vancouver.
Affected passengers will be contacted for rebooking or full refunds. This change comes amid recent scrutiny of Air India, following a June 2025 crash in Ahmedabad that killed 260 people and an incident involving cockroaches on a San Francisco-Mumbai flight.
NRIs planning travel are encouraged to check with Air India for updates and explore alternative routes to stay connected with their homeland.
Source: Air India to suspend services to Washington, D.C. from Sept. 1
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