India, Aug. 11 -- Air India on Monday announced it will suspend its non-stop flights between Delhi and Washington, D.C., from September 1, 2025, citing operational constraints tied to a major fleet upgrade and ongoing airspace restrictions.

The airline said the decision stems from a planned shortfall in its fleet as 26 Boeing 787-8 aircraft undergo extensive retrofitting, a process expected to run until late 2026. The retrofit programme, launched last month, is aimed at significantly improving the passenger experience but will keep multiple aircraft out of service at any given time.

The continued closure of Pakistani airspace, which forces longer flight routings for certain international sectors, has added to the operational complexity....