Air India announced on 11 August 2025 that it was Delhi and Washington DC from 1 September. Will suspend its non-stop flights between. The decision has been taken amidst operational challenges: Airline is currently improving 26 Boeing 787-8 aircraft, which has temporarily lacked fleet. In addition, Pakistan has still become more difficult to operate this route as Pakistan continues to be banned on the use of airspace.

According to Air India, after 1 September, an alternative travel arrangement will be given to the passengers booking on the Delhi-Washington route. The airline is working on providing a suitable flight rebooking option or alternative routing to reduce discomfort.

This change highlights how regional geopolitics can ripple into commercial aviation. The lingering closure of Pakistani airspace, triggered earlier in the year amid tensions following India’s Operation Sindoor, has continued to disrupt flight paths and increase operational complexity for Indian carriers.

For travellers, this suspension means forcing forced connections through more travel time or other hubs, affecting professional passengers, students and regular flying on this important Indo-US route.

As long as Air India manages its fleet and deal with the restrictions of the airspace, the step outlines the need for widespread challenges in maintaining connectivity and the strength of infrastructure. At the moment, passengers are advised to keep taking updates and rely on the timely guidance of the airline during this change.