Air India announced on Monday that it will suspend flights between Delhi and Washington D.C. from September 1, primarily owing to the unavailability of several Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft undergoing a retrofit programme, alongside other operational factors.
Currently, the Tata Group-owned airline operates five weekly flights on this route using Dreamliners. However, the extensive retrofit of 26 Boeing 787-8 planes commenced last month, aimed at significantly enhancing passenger experience. This process requires multiple aircraft to be unavailable at any given time until at least the end of 2026.
“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, aimed at significantly enhancing customer experience, necessitates a prolonged unavailability of multiple aircraft at any given time until at least end of 2026,” the airline stated.
Additionally, the closure of Pakistani airspace continues to affect Air India’s long-haul operations. Flights between Delhi and Washington now include a stopover at Vienna, extending total journey time to about 19 hours. The return leg operates non-stop with a flight duration of approximately 15 hours.
Passengers booked to or from Washington D.C. beyond September 1 will be contacted and offered alternative travel options, including rebooking on other flights or full refunds, according to their preferences.
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Apart from Washington, Air India serves six other North American destinations non-stop: New York, Newark (EWR), Chicago, San Francisco (US), Toronto, and Vancouver (Canada).
The airline currently operates a fleet of approximately 190 narrow-body and wide-body aircraft. The retrofit of the legacy Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners is expected to conclude by July 2027.
“Air India customers will continue to have the options of one-stop flights to Washington D.C. 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 statement added.
Following the fatal crash of an Air India Boeing 787-8 en route to London Gatwick from Ahmedabad on June 12, the airline has implemented network adjustments, including the withdrawal of flights on five international routes as part of its five-year transformation plan.
Air India further revealed plans to retrofit 13 legacy Boeing 777-300ER aircraft starting early 2027, with completion expected by October 2028. The timeline has been delayed due to supply chain issues.
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