Divya Delhi: Air India will temporarily cease Delhi-Washington DC flights on September 1. Several operational factors influenced this decision. The expected fleet shortage is the main reason for the suspension. Air India began upgrading 26 Boeing 787-8 aircraft last month. This substantial upgrade initiative to improve customer experience requires numerous airplanes to be unavailable until at least 2026. That and the prolonged restriction of Pakistani airspace affect the airline's long-haul operations, lengthening flight routings and complicating operations. Air India customers having Washington, DC tickets after September 1, 2025, will be contacted and given rebooking on other flights or full refunds, as desired. Air India customers can continue to book one-stop flights to Washington DC from four US gateways—New York (JFK), Newark (EWR), Chicago, and San Francisco—with Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines, allowing them to travel on a single itinerary with their baggage checked through.