Air India has suspended operations on the Delhi–Washington, D.C. route as of September 1.
It attributed the decision to a planned shortage of aircraft following the start of retrofits on 26 Boeing 787-8 aircraft. The number of aircraft available for operations will remain insufficient through the end of 2026, and extended flight times caused by the closure of Pakistani airspace were also cited as factors.
Customers with reservations are being offered changes or refunds, and access to Washington, D.C. is available via interline partners Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines from the four U.S. cities that Air India continues to serve.
The Boeing 787 retrofit program has begun at Boeing’s facility in Victorville, California, United States. Seven aircraft will undergo extensive maintenance to improve performance. The first aircraft to be retrofitted (registration: VT-ANT) and the second are slated to return to service in December, with the work continuing through mid-2027.
