US EditionAir India Seeks China’s Approval to Use Military Airspace Amid Pakistan Overflight Ban: Reuters
Air India aims to reduce up to 15% capacity cuts and losses of $1.13 million weekly by accessing China's Xinjiang airspace after Pakistan's ban increased fuel costs 29%.
- Recently, Air India lobbied the Indian government to ask China to permit use of a sensitive military airspace zone in Xinjiang to shorten long‑haul routes, according to a confidential company document submitted to Indian officials in late October.
- Pakistan's airspace closure prompted longer routings that added up to three hours and forced Air India to suspend its Delhi‑Washington route in August, making Mumbai and Bengaluru to San Francisco routes unviable.
- Air India estimates the Hotan routing could restore up to 15 per cent of capacity and cut losses by about US$1.13 million per week, while Pakistan's airspace ban impacted profit before tax by US$455 million annually.
- Air India requested a temporary subsidy until Pakistan reopens airspace, while China's foreign ministry said it was unaware and referred Reuters to relevant authorities; China's defence ministry did not respond.
- China's military control means Xinjiang airspace, overseen by the People's Liberation Army's Western Theater Command, includes recently expanded Hotan airbase and is ringed by 20,000 feet mountains.
22 Articles
22 Articles
Channel News Asia
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Air India Lobbies New Delhi To Convince China To Use Its Military Airspace
Air India is lobbying the Indian government to convince China to let it use a sensitive military airspace zone in Xinjiang to shorten routes as the financial toll from a ban on Indian carriers flying over Pakistan mounts, a company document shows.
Exclusive: Air India lobbies to use airspace over China's Xinjiang as financial woes mount
Air India is lobbying the Indian government to convince China to let it use a sensitive military airspace zone in Xinjiang to shorten routes as the financial toll from a ban on Indian carriers flying over Pakistan mounts, a company document shows.
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