New Delhi — India is in talks with China over allowing Indian commercial airlines to use airspace over the Xinjiang region, as carriers seek shorter routes to Western destinations amid the continued closure of Pakistani airspace.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said discussions are focused on the Hotan route in China.
“We are looking at other alternatives. Discussion on the Hotan route in China is going on between the two countries. Our External Affairs Ministry is engaging with the country. Let us see how it goes, but we are trying alternatives,” Naidu told reporters.
The proposed route could help reduce additional flying time and operating costs faced by Indian airlines that have been forced to avoid Pakistani airspace.
Discussions over routing flights through Hotan have reportedly been underway for more than a year.
The talks come as India and China have gradually restored direct air connectivity following years of disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and tensions along their border.
China Southern Airlines recently announced the resumption of direct flights between Guangzhou and New Delhi after a six-year suspension. The airline said it plans to operate more than 100 weekly flights across eight round-trip routes in South Asia.
IndiGo became the first Indian airline to restore direct India-China service, restarting flights between Kolkata and Guangzhou in October 2025 and adding Delhi-Guangzhou service the following month.
Air India resumed direct flights between New Delhi and Shanghai on Feb. 1 after a nearly six-year break. The airline initially operated four weekly flights and later increased the service to five flights a week.
The restoration of air links has taken place alongside broader diplomatic engagement between New Delhi and Beijing.
Pakistan has kept its airspace closed to Indian aircraft since April 2025, forcing airlines to use longer routes on flights to Europe, North America and other Western destinations.
Pakistan recently extended the restrictions for another month amid continued tensions with India following the 2025 Pahalgam terrorist attack and India’s subsequent Operation Sindhoor against militant targets in Pakistan. (Source: IANS)
