Honestly, tracking the delhi to sfo air india flight status feels a bit like watching a high-stakes chess match. You’ve got the massive Boeing 777s crossing the North Pole, time zones shifting by thirteen hours, and the chaotic energy of Indira Gandhi International (DEL) on one end. It’s one of the longest nonstop flights in the world.
If you're flying this week—specifically today, January 13, 2026—you're likely looking for AI173 or AI183. These are the workhorses of the route.
The Real-Time Reality of AI173
Most people assume that if the clock says 10:25 AM, the doors are closing. Not exactly. AI173, the primary morning departure from Delhi, has been sporting a bit of a "late bird" reputation lately.
Just today, January 13, the flight was scheduled for its usual 10:25 AM IST departure from Terminal 3. But look at the data: it actually pushed back at 11:10 AM. That’s a 45-minute lag before it even hit the taxiway. If you’re tracking this for a pickup at San Francisco International (SFO), don’t just trust the original arrival time of 12:25 PM PST. The updated estimate is closer to 12:23 PM or 12:30 PM, depending on how much time the pilots can make up over the Pacific.
Yesterday was even worse. AI173 took off nearly 43 minutes late and landed over an hour behind schedule.
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Why does this happen? Usually, it's a mix of heavy morning traffic in Delhi and the sheer logistical weight of prepping a Boeing 777-300ER for a 15-hour-and-30-minute haul.
What’s Happening with AI183?
Then there’s the afternoon option. AI183 typically leaves at 3:10 PM IST. It’s the "backup" for those who don't want to wake up at 6:00 AM for the morning flight. But even this one isn't immune to the "Delhi Delay." Recent records show it often pushes back about 15 to 20 minutes late.
It’s currently scheduled to land in SFO around 4:50 PM PST. If you're using this to connect to a domestic flight in the US, like a United hop to Seattle or LA, give yourself at least three hours. Global Entry helps, but SFO Terminal G can be a beast during peak international arrival windows.
The Fleet Shake-up of 2026
Here is the part most travelers haven't realized yet. Air India is in the middle of a massive "network rejig." Just last month, in December 2025, they made the controversial call to cancel direct flights to SFO from Bengaluru and Mumbai.
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Basically, they’ve funneled almost all that North American traffic through Delhi.
This means the delhi to sfo air india flight status is now more critical than ever because the planes are packed to the gills. Every seat is usually taken. On the bright side, the airline just took delivery of its first "line-fit" Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner (registered as VT-AWA) yesterday, January 12.
While the 777-300ER still handles the bulk of the SFO route, we’re starting to see these newer, retrofitted planes with actual working entertainment systems and better cabin pressure. If you’re lucky enough to be on a retrofitted tail, your jet lag won't feel like a physical assault.
Quick Facts for Today’s Flight
- Flight Numbers: AI173 (Morning) and AI183 (Afternoon).
- Departure Terminal: Delhi T3 (Indira Gandhi International).
- Arrival Terminal: SFO International Terminal (Gate G).
- Average Duration: 15 hours and 30 minutes, though tailwinds can shave off 20 minutes.
- Current Performance: Roughly 33% of flights are arriving "late" (more than 30 minutes past schedule) this month.
How to Actually Track It
Don’t just Google the flight number and walk away. Google’s snippet sometimes lags behind the actual transponder data.
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I’d suggest using the Air India "Manage Booking" portal for the most "official" word, but for the truth? Use FlightAware or FlightRadar24. They use ADS-B data. If you see the plane is still sitting at the gate in Delhi and it’s already 10:45 AM, you know you’ve got time for one more coffee.
Also, keep an eye on the weather in SFO. San Francisco is famous for its fog (they call him Karl). If the fog rolls in heavy, SFO often goes into a Ground Delay Program, which can hold up even the long-haul arrivals from India.
Actionable Tips for Your Journey
- Check the Tail Number: If you can, look up the tail number on a tracking site. If it’s one of the newer VT-A series Dreamliners or the retrofitted 777s, you're in for a much better experience than the old "legacy" cabins.
- The 3-Hour Rule: Since Air India moved the Mumbai and Bengaluru SFO traffic to Delhi, the check-in counters at T3 are more crowded. Get there 3.5 hours early. No, seriously.
- Digital Forms: Don't forget that as of late 2025, India requires a Digital Disembarkation form for some categories of travelers, and the US still has its own shifting requirements. Double-check your Air India app for alerts.
- SFO Pickup: If you’re picking someone up, wait until the flight status says "Landed" before you leave for the airport if you live in the South Bay. Customs at SFO can take anywhere from 20 minutes to 2 hours.
The Delhi-SFO corridor is a marathon. Knowing the status of that flight isn't just about the time on the clock—it's about managing the chaos of one of the world's most demanding air routes.
To stay on top of your travel today, cross-reference your AI173 or AI183 flight number across the official Air India app and a third-party tracker like FlightAware. This ensures you aren't caught off guard by the 40-to-60-minute "average" delays currently affecting this specific route.