India in Talks With China to Use Xinjiang Airspace
With Pakistan's airspace still closed to Indian carriers since April 2025, India is negotiating with China to allow Indian aircraft to use airspace over Xinjiang, potentially opening a new route for flights toward Europe and North America. India's civil aviation minister said the discussions have been underway for more than a year, with a possible route over Hotan under consideration.
Impact and considerations
Pakistan sits along some of the most efficient westbound paths from northern India, so rerouting lengthens flights and raises fuel and time costs, affecting capacity and fares on India-Europe and India-North America routes. If the Xinjiang route is approved, it would reshape routing between South Asia and Europe and N…
Key points
- Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian carriers in April 2025 after relations deteriorated following the Pahalgam attack.
- India is negotiating with China to allow Indian aircraft to use airspace over Xinjiang, potentially opening a new route toward Europe and North America.
- Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu said the discussions have been underway for more than a year.
- A possible route over Hotan, a city in south Xinjiang, is being considered.
- Pakistan sits directly along some of the most efficient westbound paths from northern India; before the closure, airlines could fly through Pakistani airspace toward Europe, North America and other destinations.
Sources and time
- Primary source
- Skift
- Other sources
- 0
- First source publication
- 30 Sept 2026, 00:16
- Page published
- 30 Sept 2026, 00:38
- Last updated
- 30 Sept 2026, 00:16
- Original links
- Skift Feed：India Looks to China for a Way Around Pakistan’s Airspace Closure (opens in a new tab)Primary source · en · Published 30 Sept 2026, 00:16