Air India announced on Monday that it will suspend direct flights between New Delhi and Washington DC starting September 1, citing a combination of aircraft shortages due to an ongoing $400 million fleet retrofit program and the continued closure of Pakistani airspace.
The service suspension marks another major setback for the national carrier, which is already facing intense regulatory scrutiny following a tragic June crash in Ahmedabad that killed 260 people.
The planned reduction in Air India’s long-haul fleet and Pakistan’s prolonged airspace restrictions have severely impacted the airline’s international operations. Long detours to avoid Pakistani territory have increased flight times, operational complexity, and fuel costs, further straining the carrier’s resources.
Pakistan’s airspace closure is estimated to have cost Air India $600 million over the past 12 months, according to earlier Reuters reports. The closure stems from escalating tensions after a deadly attack in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, which New Delhi blamed on Islamabad a claim Pakistan denies.
While direct services to Washington DC will be halted, Air India passengers will have alternative routing options through its U.S. interline partners Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines via New York, Newark, Chicago, and San Francisco.
