India Seeks Xinjiang Air Corridor With China to Offset Pakistan Airspace Ban: Ram Mohan Naidu

India is exploring a potential air corridor through China’s Xinjiang region as an alternative to Pakistani airspace, which remains closed to Indian airlines, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said on Tuesday.

The proposed route could help reduce the additional flying time and operating costs faced by Indian carriers on several international routes since Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian airlines following the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025.

Indian carriers flying from northern and western India to Europe and North America have been forced to take longer routes over the Arabian Sea and towards Muscat. Depending on the sector, the diversion has added between 45 minutes and two hours to flight times, increasing fuel consumption and operational expenses.

India-China Discussions Underway on Hotan Route

Naidu said discussions are underway with China over a possible route through Hotan in southwestern Xinjiang.

“We are looking at other alternatives. Discussion on the Hotan route is going on between the two countries. Our external affairs ministry (MEA) is engaging with their country,” Naidu told reporters on Tuesday.

Under the proposed routing, flights departing from Delhi and Mumbai could travel towards Leh before entering Chinese airspace near Hotan. From there, aircraft could head towards Kyrgyzstan and connect with existing routes to Europe, the UK and North America.

An official familiar with the matter said Indian carriers from northern and north-western India are currently using the L639 route to avoid Pakistani airspace, adding roughly two hours to some flights.

A second person familiar with the proposal said the Hotan route could reduce travel time and generate savings on routes to destinations including Georgia, Baku, Central Asia and northern Europe.

Air India Among Airlines Hit by Longer Routes

The prolonged airspace restrictions have been particularly costly for Air India, which operates several long-haul services from its Delhi and Mumbai hubs.

Former Air India CEO Campbell Wilson had estimated in 2025 that the airline incurred losses of around ₹4,000 crore because of the Pakistani airspace closure.

However, Naidu did not provide a timeline for the proposed Xinjiang corridor and did not indicate that India and China had reached an agreement.

Opening a new international air corridor would require approval from both countries, along with coordination on air traffic management, flight safety and other operational arrangements.

For now, the Hotan proposal remains under discussion as India looks for ways to reduce the additional time and costs created by the continued Pakistani airspace restrictions.