Air India said it will suspend its only nonstop service between New Delhi and Washington, D.C. from 1 September, citing a shortage of long-haul aircraft and continued restrictions on flying over Pakistan. Twenty-six of the flag carrier’s Boeing 787-8 jets are out of service while they undergo an extensive retrofit designed to upgrade cabins, a process the airline expects to keep multiple aircraft grounded until at least the end of 2026. The closure of Pakistani airspace, imposed after a flare-up in bilateral tensions, forces longer routings and adds to operational complexity. The move will leave the two capitals without direct service by an Indian airline. Passengers holding tickets beyond the suspension date will be offered rebooking on one-stop itineraries through New York, Newark, Chicago and San Francisco with partner carriers Alaska Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines, or full refunds. Air India estimates the need to bypass Pakistan adds about US$600 million in annual costs. The suspension deepens challenges for the Tata-owned carrier, which is already facing heightened regulatory scrutiny following a June crash that killed 260 people.