Air India is restructuring its long-haul operations between India and the United States by making Delhi the airline’s exclusive connection point to San Francisco, following the suspension of direct services from Bengaluru and Mumbai. This strategic shift reflects ongoing operational challenges and seeks to preserve connectivity to the US West Coast.
The airline has confirmed it will discontinue its ultra-long-haul non-stop flights from Bengaluru and Mumbai to San Francisco beginning late February 2026, largely due to persistent airspace restrictions over Russian and Pakistani territories. These limitations have increasingly forced flights to make technical stops, extend journey times, and complicate operations, weakening the viability of the routes despite their importance.
The Bengaluru–San Francisco service, launched in 2021 as one of Air India’s longest routes, covered roughly 7,561 nautical miles. Despite strong demand in certain segments, the need for refuelling stops-initially in Kolkata or via Vienna-and extended flight durations ultimately made the route difficult to sustain. The final flight on this link is scheduled for February 27, 2026.
Similarly, the Mumbai–San Francisco service, inaugurated in December 2022, faced mounting operational constraints as return journeys stretched to nearly 20 hours due to detours and additional stops. Although the route operated multiple times weekly, these challenges prompted its cancellation, with operations ending on February 28, 2026.
In response, Air India is consolidating its San Francisco connectivity through its Delhi hub. The airline will increase frequencies on the Delhi–San Francisco route from a daily flight to ten weekly services starting in early March 2026. Outbound flights from Delhi will remain non-stop, while return journeys will include a technical refuelling stop in Kolkata. On select days, two departures per day will be offered to provide scheduling flexibility for passengers. However, return block times on some flights may extend to over 20 hours due to the prevailing airspace situation.
For travelers from Bengaluru and Mumbai, this transition means that journeys to San Francisco will now typically involve routing via Delhi, instead of a direct flight. While this represents a change in travel structure, Air India emphasizes that overall access to the US West Coast remains intact through the expanded Delhi service.
The consolidation underscores a broader trend in network planning where airlines optimize long-haul operations through centralized hubs, enhancing reliability and resource utilization amid challenging airspace conditions. This move by Air India reflects an effort to maintain market presence and ensure continuity of services between India and the US despite external constraints.
