New Delhi, Aug. 11 -- Air India on Monday announced the suspension of its services between Delhi and Washington DC, effective September 1, due to a combination of operational factors, to ensure the reliability and integrity of the airline's overall route network.

The suspension is primarily driven by the planned shortfall in Air India's fleet, as the airline commenced retrofitting 26 of its Boeing 787-8 aircraft last month. This extensive retrofit programme, aimed at significantly enhancing customer experience, necessitates a prolonged unavailability of multiple aircraft at any given time until at least the end of 2026.

That, coupled with the continued closure of airspace over Pakistan, impacts the airline's long-haul operations, leadin...