United currently operates daily Delhi-Newark flights with a 777-200 and daily Mumbai-Newark service with a 777-300ER. Due to Pakistan airspace closure, flight operations are severely affected especially India-USA and India – Europe. Due to this, United is operating its nonstop service to Delhi and Mumbai from Newark with a technical halt.

For the past few days, Delhi – Newark flight has a technical halt at Munich airport and Mumbai – Newark flight has a technical halt at Frankfurt airport. This halt is for refuelling as well as crew change.

United has temporarily suspended Delhi-Newark flights from April 5, 2019. This suspension is for a period of two weeks. Flight operations on Delhi-Newark route will resume from April 18, 2019.

Pakistan airspace has partially opened up for transit flights to/from India as well. Hence, Mumbai – Newark route operated by a 777-300ER will operate non-stop instead of a technical halt from April 5, 2019.

In an internal note to flight attendants, United mentioned that,

Due to seasonal winds and the continued closure of Pakistani airspace, we currently are unable to operate our flights between EWR and DEL (New Delhi) while meeting crew flying time requirements. Beginning Friday, we will suspend the service for two weeks but will continue to closely monitor the situation and remain in contact with U.S. government authorities and our international partners. We are continuing to operate our EWR-BOM (Mumbai) service; nonstop flying on that route resumes today.

We are reaching out directly to our customers booked on the EWR-DEL flights to provide alternate travel options, including rebooking on our Star Alliance partners or providing full refunds. Customers may also visit united.com or check our mobile app to see the latest updates.

Whereas on United’ website,

Your flight is cancelled because of local government restrictions at your destination that prevented flights from taking off or landing. We’re sorry for the inconvenience.

I guess, this may be a standard reply but still United, you might want to correct it. If you are travelling on United’s Delhi-Newark service during the affected period, contact United if you haven’t been proactively contacted. United is offering full refunds or alternative travel options on other Star Alliance carriers to affected passengers.

Are you affected by the suspension of UA 82/83 Delhi-Newark flights?

(Tip of the hat to Live and Let’s Fly)