India-China Hotan air route talks are gaining importance as New Delhi looks for a shorter alternative for Indian airlines affected by Pakistan’s continued airspace closure. The proposed route through Xinjiang could reduce flying time, fuel burn and operating costs on some westbound services.
Pakistan airspace
Pakistan has kept its airspace closed to Indian-registered aircraft and Indian-operated or leased airlines since April 2025. The latest restriction has been extended until October 24, 2026, according to a Notice to Airmen issued by the Pakistan Airports Authority.
The closure has forced many Indian carriers flying from northern and western India toward Europe, Central Asia and North America to take longer routes over the Arabian Sea and toward Muscat.
Those diversions can add roughly 45 minutes to two hours to some journeys, depending on the destination, increasing fuel consumption, crew costs and aircraft utilisation.
Xinjiang route
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said India is exploring a route through Hotan in southwestern Xinjiang and that the Ministry of External Affairs is engaging with Chinese authorities.
“We are looking at other alternatives,” Naidu said, adding that discussions on the Hotan route are continuing between the two countries.
The proposed corridor could allow aircraft from northern India to enter Chinese airspace and then continue west toward Central Asia and parts of Europe, potentially avoiding the longer southern detour.
Airline costs
The financial impact of the Pakistan airspace ban has been particularly significant for airlines operating long-haul services.
Air India is among the most exposed because of its large international network from Delhi and Mumbai. A shorter corridor could help reduce fuel burn and improve aircraft scheduling on selected routes.
The Hotan option would not necessarily benefit every flight to Europe or North America, but it could be useful for destinations in Central Asia, the Caucasus and northern or eastern Europe.
Europe flights
The talks come as direct air connectivity between India and China continues to recover.
IndiGo restarted Kolkata-Guangzhou flights in October 2025 and launched Delhi-Guangzhou services the following month. Air India resumed Delhi-Shanghai flights on February 1, 2026 after a gap of nearly six years.
China Southern Airlines also restored its Guangzhou-Delhi route on September 21, 2026, further strengthening aviation links between the two countries.
India-China aviation
The proposed Hotan corridor reflects the wider improvement in India-China engagement after several years of strained relations following the border tensions that began in 2020.
For New Delhi, however, the aviation issue is primarily practical. Pakistan’s airspace restriction has created measurable costs for Indian airlines, and finding a shorter alternative has become increasingly important as international traffic expands.
The next key step is whether Beijing approves operational access through Xinjiang and whether aviation regulators can establish a commercially workable route. Until then, the Hotan corridor remains under discussion rather than an approved flight path.
