India Explores China Aviation Corridor to Bypass Pakistani Airspace

New Delhi, India — India’s Civil Aviation Minister, Ram Mohan Naidu, has confirmed that India is in discussions with China to establish an aviation corridor through the Hotan region of southwestern Xinjiang. The proposed route would allow Indian carriers to bypass Pakistani airspace, which has been closed to Indian flights since April 2025.

Under the proposed arrangement, flights from Delhi and Mumbai would travel towards Leh before entering Chinese airspace near Hotan, then proceed to Kyrgyzstan and connect with established routes to Europe and North America. Currently, Indian carriers are forced to take longer southern routes over the Arabian Sea, adding up to two hours to some long-haul flights.

Air India’s former CEO estimated in 2025 that the airline alone incurred losses of approximately ₹4,000 crore due to the Pakistani airspace closure. The Ministry of External Affairs is engaged with Chinese authorities, though no agreement has been reached.

Why it matters: For Indian carriers, particularly Air India with its extensive long-haul network, the airspace closure has been a significant cost burden. A China corridor would restore competitiveness on Europe and North America routes. For the broader B2B travel ecosystem, it could mean improved flight timings and potentially more competitive fares on key outbound routes.