August 14, 2025

Get ready for a big change in India-U.S. air travel! Air India has announced it will stop its nonstop flights between Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C., and Delhi starting September 1. This flight has been a popular and long route, flying nonstop for about 14.5 to 15 hours since it began in July 2017, three times a week. But now, the nonstop trip is hitting pause. Why? Air India reveals a tough combo of challenges. First, the airline is facing a shortage of planes. It plans to upgrade 26 of its Boeing 787-8 aircraft, which means many planes will be out of action until at least the end of 2026! On top of that, the airspace over Pakistan is still closed due to recent conflicts with neighboring Pakistan. This closure forces Air India to take longer routes for flights, making nonstop travel harder to manage. Passengers booked for travel after September 1 will hear from Air India soon. The airline promises to offer either a full refund or new travel plans. But don’t worry entirely; Air India still offers one-stop flights to Washington through stops at major U.S. airports like New York’s JFK, Newark, Chicago, or San Francisco. They work with American partners like Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta to keep journeys going. What about other flights? Right now, no airline offers nonstop flights between the D.C. area and Delhi except Air India’s suspended service. However, many airlines do offer one-stop flights connecting these cities. The route has been important too—before the nonstop flights started, travel experts said that this connection helped pump $30 million yearly into the D.C. economy through business and leisure spending. So this pause is not just a flight change but a notable shift in U.S.-India travel. Air India’s decision shakes things up but promises future improvements after the aircraft upgrades finish. For now, travelers will adapt to these changes and find new ways to connect across continents. As Jeff Clabaugh from WTOP reminds us, this is a big story for the Washington region’s economy and global connections!

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Tags: Air india, Dulles international airport, Delhi flights, Flight suspension, Boeing 787 retrofit, Pakistan airspace closure,