Air India Scraps Direct Bengaluru-San Francisco Flights, Travel Time Soars

• Air India will discontinue non-stop Bengaluru-San Francisco and Mumbai-San Francisco flights from March 1, 2026.
• This move ends a crucial direct link for tech workers, students, and business travelers, making travel longer and more complex.
• Passengers will now face at least one stopover, increasing travel time from 16-17 hours to 22-26+ hours, with added fatigue and risks.
• The change disproportionately affects Bengaluru, forcing an extra domestic hop via Delhi and undermining its "Silicon Valley" image.
• Existing bookings beyond February 2026 will be rebooked or refunded; passengers are advised to contact Air India directly.

Why It Matters: Direct US West Coast travel from Bengaluru and Mumbai ends, forcing longer, more complex journeys for flyers.