Air India to stop Bengaluru and Mumbai–San Francisco flights from March, business travellers most affected
Starting March 1, 2025, Air India will stop its direct flights from Bengaluru and Mumbai to San Francisco. The airline says this is happening because of the high costs and trouble caused by current “airspace restrictions” (closed flight paths over certain countries). Instead of these routes, the airline will focus more on its flights from Delhi, increasing the number of flights from Delhi to San Francisco and Toronto to 10 every week.
Many people who already booked tickets for after February 28 are worried and confused about their travel plans. On social media, passengers are asking what they should do with their existing tickets. Some travelers also pointed out that these routes used large, popular planes, so they are surprised the airline is stopping them. Air India has said they might bring these direct flights back if the airspace rules change and it becomes easier to fly those routes again.
If you have a ticket for one of these canceled flights, Air India has promised to help. They will either move you to a different flight (likely connecting through Delhi) or give you a full refund of your money. The airline plans to contact affected passengers directly to explain their options. If you are worried, you can also check the “Self-Service Re-accommodation” tool on their website to see your new flight details.
