Air India is set to discontinue its non-stop flight services between Bengaluru and San Francisco by the end of February 2026, effectively severing the direct air link between India's Silicon Valley and its American counterpart. This decision marks a significant change for a route that has a complex history with multiple attempts by airlines to establish direct connections. Back in February 2020, American Airlines had announced plans to connect Seattle with Bengaluru, scheduled for October of that year, but the global lockdown that followed weeks later prevented its launch. Similarly, during the pandemic in 2021, United Airlines declared its intention to launch its longest flight ever between San Francisco and Bengaluru. However, neither of these ventures materialized.

Instead, it was Air India, then a government-owned entity, that inaugurated flights between these two crucial IT hubs in January 2021, operating under an air bubble agreement. This route was temporarily suspended in early 2022. The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war played a role in its relaunch, as American carriers opted to avoid Russian airspace. With additional airworthy planes, Air India restarted the service, becoming the primary direct link for passengers travelling between these regions.

The Bengaluru-San Francisco route has demonstrated substantial demand, with nearly 150,000 passengers flying between the two cities (both ways included) in the 12 months ending September. Air India currently provides a thrice-a-week service, utilizing B777-200LR aircraft configured with 344 seats per flight, comprising four First Class seats, 35 Business Class seats, and 305 Economy Class seats. In the July-September quarter, Air India transported close to 14,000 passengers on this route. Over the 12 months ending September 2025, Air India accounted for over 63,000 passengers, approximately 43% of the total traffic, indicating a strong preference for direct travel despite other one-stop options.

The primary reason for Air India's decision to cease these direct flights is a critical shortage of suitable aircraft. The Bengaluru-San Francisco route, being one of the world's longest, initially relied on the B777-200LR. Air India's fleet included three legacy B777-200LRs, which were later augmented by five former Delta Air Lines B777-200LRs. However, all the legacy aircraft and two of the former Delta planes are no longer part of the fleet, as the airline was unable to extend their leases. The former Delta planes were particularly favored by passengers due to their significantly superior interiors and overall experience compared to Air India's older B777s.

Compounding the aircraft shortage issue is the persistent closure of Pakistani airspace for Indian operators since April 2025. This closure has necessitated technical stops for Air India flights bound for San Francisco. Currently, the Bengaluru-San Francisco flight operates via Delhi, while the return journey includes a halt in Kolkata. Such routing not only negates the primary advantage of a non-stop flight by adding considerable travel time but also renders the service less attractive for passengers and more costly for the airline due to additional landings and take-offs. This route has been particularly popular among IT professionals and Visiting Friends and Relatives (VFR) traffic, allowing old parents to fly effortlessly without the need for transfers at major European hubs, which are common alternatives.

Following March 2026, passengers from Bengaluru seeking to travel to San Francisco will face revised travel options. Air India plans to discontinue its services from Mumbai and Bengaluru to San Francisco but will significantly augment its service from Delhi, increasing frequencies to 10 times a week from the current seven. Passengers departing from Bengaluru will be offered a two-way connection via Delhi. Critically, while the current operation allows for immigration processes to be completed in Bengaluru even with a Delhi halt, this will change post-March 2026. On the outbound journey, Bengaluru passengers will fly one-stop via Delhi. The return leg will involve a technical halt in Vienna, followed by Delhi, where passengers will be required to complete all immigration and customs formalities before connecting to Bengaluru.

This restructuring creates substantial opportunities for other international carriers. European airlines such as British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Lufthansa, Air France, and KLM, which already operate flights to Bengaluru and have connections to San Francisco via their respective hubs in Europe, are well-positioned to capture this market. Lufthansa, for instance, has already increased its capacity to Bengaluru post-pandemic with additional flights from Munich. Furthermore, Middle Eastern carriers like Emirates and Qatar Airways, often preferred by many passengers for transfers over European options, will also benefit from this shift.

As Air India approaches its fourth anniversary under the Tata group next month, its expansion plans appear to have encountered hurdles, partly due to supply chain issues delaying aircraft deliveries. This situation prompts a need for introspection within the airline regarding its strategy and operational capabilities. The ongoing closure of Pakistani airspace, extended month-to-month, raises questions about its future availability and whether Indian carriers will need to consider significant investments, akin to Qantas's Project Sunrise, to enable true non-stop ultra-long-haul flights without relying on specific airspaces. Such initiatives, however, come with substantial costs that would ultimately be passed on to consumers.

All eyes are also on the resolution of the Russia-Ukraine war. Should hostilities cease in the near future, it could provide an opportunity for United Airlines to finally launch its Bengaluru service, a route it cannot currently operate without utilizing Russian airspace or incorporating additional stops. If this scenario unfolds, the direct market that Air India meticulously built and sustained for the Bengaluru-San Francisco connection could potentially be ceded to a competitor.