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, potentially opening a new route for flights heading from India toward Europe and North America.
- Pakistan has prohibited Indian aircraft from its airspace since April 2025, forcing airlines to navigate longer paths for international travel. Pakistan extended the restrictions again earlier this month.
- 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 details regarding which flights might use the corridor remain pending.
- The proposed Xinjiang corridor provides Indian carriers with a potential alternative to routes affected by Pakistani airspace restrictions; if approved, this path could restore more efficient westbound travel options.
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India has been negotiating with China for nearly a year to establish an alternative air route through Xinjiang airspace. Restrictions on Pakistani airspace and rising jet fuel prices due to the war in West Asia have increased operating costs. Sources say India is exploring alternative routes.
India explores Xinjiang air route to cut Pakistan airspace detour; Civil Aviation Minister Naidu says talks with China underway
Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian aircraft following the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025. Since then, airlines operating flights from northern and western India to Europe and North America have had to take longer routes over the Arabian Sea towards Muscat.
India in Talks With China To Explore Alternate Air Route Amid Pakistan Airspace Ban, Say Sources | 📰 LatestLY
India is currently engaged in diplomatic discussions with China to explore the use of Xinjiang airspace as an alternate route for commercial flights, according to sources. The development follows ongoing airspace restrictions imposed by Pakistan on Indian aircraft, which have forced airlines to adapt their flight paths. 📰 India in Talks With China To Explore Alternate Air Route Amid Pakistan Airspace Ban, Say Sources.
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- 78% of the sources lean Right
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