Pakistan, Aug. 11 -- Air India will suspend its direct flights between New Delhi and Washington, DC, starting September 1. The airline cited a shortage of aircraft and the ongoing closure of Pakistani airspace as the main reasons. These factors have increased the complexity of long-haul operations and forced the airline to reroute flights. Air India also faces pressure due to a deadly crash in June, which killed 260 people in Ahmedabad. This latest move adds to the airline's growing list of operational setbacks.

The airline is currently upgrading its older Boeing planes under a $400 million retrofit program. As a result, fewer aircraft are available for long-distance routes. The continued ban on flying over Pakistan has made certain rout...