India Explores Xinjiang Air Route to Bypass Pakistan Airspace
· India · Hindustan Times, Zee News, India Today
India is negotiating with China to open a new air corridor over Hotan in southwestern Xinjiang to reduce flight times for long-haul travel. The proposed route would allow airlines flying from Delhi and Mumbai to bypass Pakistani airspace, which has been closed to Indian carriers since the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack. Current detours over the Arabian Sea add between 45 minutes and two hours to flight times, significantly increasing operational costs and fuel consumption. Aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu stated that the Ministry of External Affairs is currently engaged in discussions with Chinese authorities. No timeline for the route's opening or a formal agreement has been established.
Why it matters
The new corridor could significantly lower operational costs for Indian carriers like Air India and reduce travel time for passengers flying to Europe and North America.
Read the original report — Hindustan Times
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