India is exploring an alternate air route through Chinese airspace as airlines continue to face longer flying times and higher operating costs due to the ongoing Pakistan airspace ban. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is reportedly in discussions with Chinese authorities on the possibility of routing Indian flights through Xinjiang, including via Hotan in western China.
Sources indicate that talks on the proposed routing have been underway for more than a year. If cleared, the route could offer Indian carriers an alternative for select westbound services to Europe and the US, helping reduce the additional fuel burn, flying time and crew costs resulting from current diversions.
Pakistan’s airspace has remained closed to Indian airlines since April 2025, forcing carriers to operate longer routes, including diversions over the Arabian Sea. The impact has been particularly significant for long-haul flights, where extended flight times translate into higher fuel and crew costs and can affect aircraft utilisation.
The talks with China come as India-China air connectivity is gradually being restored, following a prolonged disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent bilateral tensions.
China Southern Airlines recently announced the resumption of Guangzhou-New Delhi flights from September 21, restoring the route after a six-year suspension. The airline plans to operate more than 100 weekly flights across eight round-trip routes in South Asia.
Indian carriers have also resumed services to China. IndiGo restarted direct connectivity in October 2025 with Kolkata-Guangzhou flights, followed by Delhi-Guangzhou services in November. Air India resumed direct Delhi-Shanghai flights on February 1, ending a nearly six-year gap, and increased the frequency to five flights a week from March 29.
The proposed alternate routing comes against the backdrop of improving India-China relations. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, speaking at an Asia Society event in New York, said bilateral ties were in a better position than in recent years, following what he described as a relationship that had gone “so much off-track”.
For Indian aviation, access to Chinese airspace could prove significant if the proposed routing receives the necessary approvals. An alternate corridor could give airlines greater flexibility in planning westbound operations while helping contain the cost impact of the continuing Pakistan airspace restrictions.