NEW DELHI, Aug 12 — India’s flag carrier Air India said on Monday that it will suspend flights between Delhi and Washington, DC, from September 1 due to the modernisation of its Boeing 787-8 fleet, reported Sputnik/RIA Novosti.
“Air India today announced the suspension of its services between Delhi and Washington, DC, effective Sept 1, 2025, due to a combination of operational factors, to ensure the reliability and integrity of Air India’s overall route network. 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,” the statement read.
The modernisation programme will make multiple Boeing aircraft unavailable until at least the end of 2026, the company added. Additionally, the ongoing closure of airspace over Pakistan has complicated long-haul operations, necessitating longer flight routes and adding operational challenges.
As a result, customers with bookings to or from Washington, DC beyond September 1 will be contacted to discuss alternative travel arrangements, Air India said.
On June 12, Air India’s London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed minutes after taking off from the airport in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad. India’s aviation authorities confirmed there were 242 people on board. Only one passenger survived. Indian media reported that the plane crashed into a medical students’ dormitory, killing dozens more. The confirmed death toll currently stands at 275.
