**Air India to End Non-Stop Flights Between Bengaluru and San Francisco by February 2026**
Air India has announced it will discontinue its non-stop flights between Bengaluru and San Francisco at the end of February 2026, severing the direct link between Silicon Valley and India’s IT capital. This decision comes after a series of developments in the aviation sector, particularly during the pandemic. In February 2020, American Airlines had planned to initiate a route connecting Seattle with Bengaluru, but the global lockdown halted those plans. Amid the pandemic, United Airlines also announced a long-haul flight between San Francisco and Bengaluru, which never materialized. Instead, Air India, then a government-owned carrier, commenced flights between the two tech hubs in January 2021 under an air bubble agreement. Although the route was temporarily suspended in early 2022, Air India resumed operations due to the ongoing geopolitical situation and the unavailability of American carriers in Russian airspace.
In the 12 months leading up to September, nearly 150,000 passengers traveled between Bengaluru and San Francisco. Currently, Air India operates three flights a week on this route, offering a total of 344 seats across First (four), Business (35), and Economy (305) classes. In the July-September quarter, Air India transported approximately 14,000 passengers on this route, accounting for over 63,000 passengers in the year ending September 2025, which represents about 43% of the total traffic, with the remainder opting for one-stop alternatives.
The primary reason for discontinuing the Bengaluru-San Francisco flights is the shortage of aircraft. This route is among the longest in the world, initially serviced by the Boeing 777-200LR. Air India had three legacy B777-200LRs and later added five former Delta Air Lines B777-200LRs to its fleet. However, all legacy aircraft and two former Delta planes have been retired, as the airline could not extend their leases. The former Delta aircraft were particularly popular among passengers due to their superior interiors and overall experience compared to the legacy Air India models.
Following the closure of Pakistani airspace to Indian operators in April 2025, Air India has been making technical stops for refueling on flights to San Francisco. Currently, flights from Bengaluru to San Francisco operate via Delhi, while the return journey includes a stop in Kolkata. This routing not only increases travel time, negating the advantages of a non-stop service, but also raises operational costs for the airline due to the additional landing and takeoff.
The Bengaluru-San Francisco route has been particularly favored by IT professionals and those visiting friends and relatives, as it allows for direct travel without the need for transfers at major European hubs.
As Air India withdraws from this route, passengers will need to explore alternative options for travel between these two significant tech hubs.
**FAQ**
**Why is Air India ending its Bengaluru-San Francisco flights?**
Air India is discontinuing the route primarily due to a shortage of aircraft, which has made it challenging to maintain non-stop services effectively.