Air India to Suspend Direct Bengaluru-Mumbai to San Francisco Flights from March 1

New Delhi: Air India has announced the suspension of direct flights from Bengaluru and Mumbai to San Francisco, effective from 1 March 2026. The airline cited challenges in aircraft deployment and increased costs due to airspace restrictions as the reasons behind the decision. Passengers who have booked tickets for travel after 28 February are now facing uncertainty.

Delhi Flights to North America to Increase

As part of the operational adjustment, Air India will increase flights from Delhi to San Francisco and Toronto. Delhi will now operate 10 flights per week to these destinations, expected to partially meet passenger demand. However, the discontinuation of direct connectivity from Bengaluru and Mumbai is likely to inconvenience tech professionals and business travelers who prefer direct access to the U.S. West Coast.

An Air India spokesperson said, “The airline has revised its North America schedule to optimize aircraft utilization and manage rising costs associated with current airspace restrictions. Increasing Delhi flights is part of this adjustment.”

Passengers to be Rebooked or Refunded

Passengers holding tickets on the Bengaluru–San Francisco and Mumbai–San Francisco routes will either be rebooked on alternative flights or provided full refunds. The airline clarified that these services may resume in the future if airspace restrictions ease.

Passenger Concerns

Many affected passengers expressed frustration over the sudden change. A Bengaluru-based tech professional, Nakul Teerth, said, “We booked months in advance to avoid last-minute issues. Now everything feels uncertain.” Another traveler questioned, “What will happen to our return tickets booked for May?” Air India officials assured that they would reach out to all affected passengers to resolve concerns.