- Air India will halt its Delhi–Washington, D.C. nonstop beginning September 1, 2025.
- Reasons include a Boeing 787-8 retrofit program running into 2026 and continued Pakistan airspace closures extending long-haul routings.
- Booked travelers after Sept. 1 will be offered rebooking via U.S. gateways (JFK, Newark, Chicago, San Francisco) or full refunds.
The Big Picture
Air India announced it will suspend nonstop service between Delhi and Washington, D.C. effective September 1, 2025. The carrier said the move is driven by a planned shortfall in available aircraft as 26 Boeing 787-8s undergo cabin retrofits, combined with longer routings caused by continued Pakistan airspace closures. According to Air India, customers affected after Sept. 1 will be contacted with options for rebooking or refunds, and one-stop itineraries to Washington remain available via partner connections through New York (JFK), Newark, Chicago, and San Francisco.
What’s New
WTOP reported that the suspension ends the D.C. region’s only nonstop link to Delhi, a route Air India launched in July 2017 that typically ran 14.5 to 15 hours. As reported by WTOP, several U.S. and international airlines continue to offer one-stop options to Delhi from the Washington area. The outlet also noted prior Sabre Global Demand data placing the D.C. area as the fourth-largest U.S. market for travel to India, and that the nonstop was once expected to generate about $30 million in annual economic impact for the region, as cited by WTOP.
What They’re Saying
Context
The retrofit program, which began last month, will cycle multiple 787-8s out of service at any given time through at least the end of 2026, according to Air India. The carrier says the ongoing Pakistan airspace closure adds flight time and complexity to long-haul operations. Air India noted it will maintain nonstop service between India and six other North American destinations, including Toronto and Vancouver. As reported by WTOP, while nonstop Dulles–Delhi service pauses, one-stop itineraries remain widely available on other carriers.
What’s Next
Air India says it is proactively contacting passengers booked after September 1 to arrange rebooking via U.S. gateways or to process refunds, based on individual preference. Travelers planning fall and winter trips between the capital region and India should check itineraries and connection times, particularly for through-ticketed baggage and minimum connections on partner flights.
The Bottom Line
The Delhi–Washington nonstop is going dark for now as Air India prioritizes a major 787-8 retrofit and navigates airspace constraints. Alternatives remain via one-stop connections, but the D.C. region loses a rare ultra-long-haul nonstop until conditions and capacity improve.
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