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India Looks to China for a Way Around Pakistan’s Airspace Closure
India is seeking a Xinjiang corridor for long-haul flights as Pakistan’s closure has forced carriers onto longer routes, officials said.
- On Tuesday, Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu announced India is negotiating with China to utilize airspace over Xinjiang for long-haul flights toward Europe and North America, bypassing Pakistani airspace restrictions.
- Pakistan has prohibited Indian aircraft from its airspace since April 2025, forcing airlines to navigate longer, less efficient international routes and disrupting westbound flight corridors that were previously standard.
- Discussions regarding the proposed Xinjiang corridor have been ongoing for more than a year, with sources reporting officials are considering a flight path over Hotan, a city in southern Xinjiang.
- While the External Affairs Ministry is engaging with Beijing, no official agreement has been finalized, and operational details regarding which flights might use this corridor remain pending.
- If approved, the Xinjiang corridor would provide Indian carriers a vital alternative to routes blocked by Pakistani airspace, potentially restoring more efficient westbound travel options for long-haul international flights.
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Why India Wants An Air Route Over China's Xinjiang Amid Pakistan Airspace Ban
India is exploring a proposed air route through China's Xinjiang region to provide Indian airlines with an alternative to longer flight paths caused by Pakistani and Iranian airspace restrictions
·New Delhi, India
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India in talks with China to explore alternate air route through Xinjiang amid Pakistan airspace ban: Sources
India is in talks with China to explore using Xinjiang airspace as an alternative route for Indian airlines amid Pakistan's airspace ban, news agency ANI reported, citing sources. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has been discussing the matter with its Chinese counterparts for over a year. "The Indian government is in talks with China over airspace. The Indian government is exploring an air route over Hotan in Xinjiang, China, to mitigate …
·Noida, India
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources36
Leaning Left1Leaning Right10Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution77% Right
Bias Distribution
- 77% of the sources lean Right
77% Right
15%
R 77%
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