India Eyes Xinjiang Air Route as Alternative to Pakistan Airspace, Says Aviation Minister

India is considering a new air route through China’s Xinjiang region to reduce the impact of Pakistan’s continued ban on Indian airlines using its airspace, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said on Tuesday.

The proposed corridor through Hotan could provide a shorter alternative for Indian carriers operating flights from northern and western India to Europe, the UK and North America. Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian airlines following the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025. Since then, carriers have been forced to take longer routes over the Arabian Sea towards Muscat, adding anywhere between 45 minutes and two hours to some flights.

Naidu said India and China are discussing the possibility of opening the Hotan route, with the Ministry of External Affairs involved in the talks. “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.

How the Proposed Xinjiang Route Could Work

Under the proposed routing, flights from Delhi and Mumbai could head towards Leh before entering Chinese airspace near Hotan in southwestern Xinjiang. The aircraft could then fly towards Kyrgyzstan before joining established routes towards Europe, the UK and North America.

Indian airlines are currently using the L639 route to avoid Pakistani airspace. A person familiar with the matter said the diversion can add around two hours to some flights. Another person familiar with the proposal said the Hotan corridor could offer operational savings on routes to destinations such as Georgia, Baku, Central Asia and northern Europe.

Air India Faces Higher Costs

The extended routes have added to fuel consumption and operating costs for Indian airlines, with Air India particularly affected because of its extensive long-haul network from Delhi and Mumbai. Former Air India CEO Campbell Wilson estimated in 2025 that the airline had incurred losses of around ₹4,000 crore due to the Pakistani airspace closure.

However, there is no confirmed timeline for the proposed China route. Naidu also did not indicate that an agreement with Beijing had been reached. Any new corridor would require formal approval from both countries, as well as coordination on air traffic management, safety procedures and other operational arrangements.

For now, India’s discussions with China over the Hotan route remain ongoing as airlines continue to use longer routes to avoid Pakistani airspace.