Air India will suspend services between New Delhi and Washington, D.C. from September due to aircraft shortages caused by upgrades to its Boeing planes and as Pakistan's airspace ban for Indian carriers affects its international routes.

Air India said it would suspend flights between Delhi and Washington, DC, from September, citing Pakistan's airspace closure to Indian carriers.

Despite the suspension of direct flights to Washington, D.C., Air India said passengers will have access to one-stop connections to the city via other U.S. gateways, including Chicago, Newark, New York and San Francisco, thanks to partnerships with airlines such as Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines.

Air India said on Monday it would stop services between the capital cities of India and the U.S. from September 1, citing aircraft shortage due to the planned upgrades to its ageing Boeing planes and the closure of Pakistan's airspace.

Affected passengers will be contacted to discuss alternative travel arrangements, including rebookings or full refunds, in accordance with their preferences.

After Air India announced the phased restoration of international flights last week following the tragic accident of AI171 in June, the Tata Group-owned carrier has announced the suspension of its services between Delhi and Washington, D.C., effective September 1, 2025, due to a combination of operational factors.

Islamabad, whose air force primarily operates Chinese-made jets and U.S. F-16s, has previously denied that India downed any Pakistani aircraft during the fighting.

An Air India flight traveling from Thiruvananthapuram to Delhi was forced to make an emergency landing at Chennai airport late

Air India will stop commercial flights between New Delhi and Washington, the company said on Monday, citing a "combination of operational factors". The airline, owned by India's Tata Group, cited a looming shortage of planes and Pakistan's decision to close airspace as the main reasons for the cancellation of flights to and from the US capital.

Air India is blaming an upgrade program for its Boeing 787s, among other things for issues with flying to Washington DC.