India in discussion with China to use air route for Europe, US flights
India is exploring an alternative air route through Chinese
airspace as its carriers continue to face restrictions on the use of Pakistani
airspace, according to India’s Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan
Naidu.
The Indian government is in discussions with China over the
possibility of allowing Indian airlines to operate through airspace over Xinjiang,
potentially providing an alternative westbound route for flights connecting
India with Europe and North America.
Naidu told reporters on Tuesday that the discussions have been
underway for more than a year. One option under consideration is a route
passing over Hotan, a city in southern Xinjiang.
Read
More Air
India pilot removed from duty after entering into Pakistan airspace
Search
for an alternative route
Pakistan’s airspace lies along several of the most direct
westbound flight paths from northern India. Before the restrictions were
introduced, airlines operating from India could generally use Pakistani
airspace before continuing toward destinations in Europe and North America.
Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian carriers in April
2025, following a deterioration in relations between the two countries after
the Pahalgam attack in Indian-administered Kashmir.
The closure has required Indian airlines to reroute affected
flights, resulting in longer flight paths and additional operational costs on
some international services.
Potential
role of Chinese airspace
Access to Chinese airspace over Xinjiang could provide Indian
carriers with another routing option for westbound operations. However, any
such arrangement would depend on bilateral discussions, regulatory approvals
and the availability of suitable air routes and air traffic arrangements.
Read
More Pakistan
airspace closure to hike costs, delays for Indian airlines
The proposed routing through southern Xinjiang would represent a
significant change from the traditional westbound corridors used by Indian
airlines and could potentially reduce the impact of the ongoing Pakistani
airspace restrictions on selected services.
No final agreement on the proposed route has been announced.
Further negotiations between the Indian and Chinese authorities are expected to
determine whether the option can be implemented.
The development comes as airlines continue to adapt their
international networks to changing airspace access and geopolitical conditions
in South Asia.
Source: Skift