Major Airline Announces Temporary Stop on Direct Flights From Delhi to Washington DC | Latest Travel News
Passengers trying to fly immediately from Delhi, India to the U.S. Capitol will need to e book a flight with an airline apart from Air India.
Air India announced Aug. 11, 2025 that it could be suspending direct flights to Washington DC.
Airplane Upgrade and Airspace Closure to Blame
The airline “primarily” blamed an improve program on its fleet of 26 Boeing 787-8 jets that started in July for the delay. But Air India also pointed to the fact that Pakistan’s airspace has been frequently closed to Indian flights.
The suspension is set to start Sept. 1, 2025, and will possible end at the earliest by the end of 2026, according to the company’s official announcement.
Air India prospects who have already booked direct flights to DC for after the suspension date will likely be supplied various journey preparations, which might embrace reserving other flights or full refunds.
The company’s fleet of 787-8s is present process an improve program to improve the “customer experience,” and “necessitates a prolonged unavailability of multiple aircraft at any given time until at least end of 2026.”
The Pakistan airspace closure to Indian flights is a little more sophisticated.
More Details on the Airspace Closure
The two international locations have been at odds for a long time, but the latest battle started on April 22, 2025 with a terrorist assault in Pahalgam, India that killed 26. India the next day in response suspended a treaty it had signed with Pakistan and shutdown a main land border crossing between the 2 international locations, according to The Hindu.
Pakistan April 24 then closed its airspace to Indian flights, and India closed its airspace to Pakistani flights on April 30. Both international locations have prolonged the airspace closures since then.
Air India is anticipated to face around $600 million in additional prices because of the airspace closure, and has requested the Indian authorities for financial help while the battle continues, according to The Independent.
Related: Alaska Airlines Cuts 4 Routes in Major Shakeup
Major Airline Announces Temporary Stop on Direct Flights From Delhi to Washington DC first appeared on Men’s Journal on Aug 11, 2025
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