Facing a projected USD 455 million annual loss from Pakistan’s closure of its airspace to Indian carriers, Air India has asked New Delhi to request permission from Beijing to route long-haul flights through the sensitive PLA-controlled corridor over Xinjiang. If granted, the shortcut would shave up to three hours and 29 % in fuel costs on Europe- and North America-bound services.
The proposal comes only weeks after India-China direct flights resumed following a five-year hiatus triggered by the 2020 Galwan Valley clash. Chinese foreign-ministry spokespeople said they were “unaware of the matter,” and aviation regulators have not commented. The air corridor in question lies near Hotan, Kashgar and Urumqi—areas with restricted civil access due to military installations.
![Air India Seeks Access to China’s Xinjiang Airspace to Offset Pakistan Overflight Ban]()
For multinationals, the outcome could materially affect travel planning between India, China and the West. If Beijing denies access, Air India may continue to suspend or curtail routes such as Delhi–Washington and Mumbai–San Francisco, pushing passengers onto Gulf or Southeast Asian carriers. Conversely, approval would signal a thaw in airspace diplomacy and could nudge other carriers to seek similar overflight rights.
Corporate travel managers should track developments closely: higher fuel surcharges and longer block times on Air India itineraries may persist into Q1 2026 unless a solution is reached. Alternative routings via Hong Kong or Bangkok currently add 60–90 minutes compared with the pre-April schedules.
The proposal comes only weeks after India-China direct flights resumed following a five-year hiatus triggered by the 2020 Galwan Valley clash. Chinese foreign-ministry spokespeople said they were “unaware of the matter,” and aviation regulators have not commented. The air corridor in question lies near Hotan, Kashgar and Urumqi—areas with restricted civil access due to military installations.
For multinationals, the outcome could materially affect travel planning between India, China and the West. If Beijing denies access, Air India may continue to suspend or curtail routes such as Delhi–Washington and Mumbai–San Francisco, pushing passengers onto Gulf or Southeast Asian carriers. Conversely, approval would signal a thaw in airspace diplomacy and could nudge other carriers to seek similar overflight rights.
Corporate travel managers should track developments closely: higher fuel surcharges and longer block times on Air India itineraries may persist into Q1 2026 unless a solution is reached. Alternative routings via Hong Kong or Bangkok currently add 60–90 minutes compared with the pre-April schedules.
