Air India is urging the Indian government to request China to open a sensitive military airspace corridor in Xinjiang to help shorten long-haul flights, Reuters reported on Wednesday. The appeal comes as the carrier faces heavy financial losses due to Pakistan’s ongoing ban on Indian overflights.
The request appears in a company document submitted to Indian officials in late October and reviewed by Reuters. It follows the recent resumption of India-China flights after a five-year break caused by a border clash.
Air India is trying to rebuild its global network after a fatal Boeing 787 crash in Gujarat in June, which killed 260 people and forced temporary flight cuts.
But the closure of Pakistan’s airspace since April has pushed fuel costs up sharply by as much as 29% and increased flight times by up to three hours on several routes.
According to the document, the airline wants China to allow passage through the Hotan sector in Xinjiang, along with emergency access to airports in Hotan, Kashgar, and Urumqi. The route would help reduce flight time to the U.S., Canada, and Europe.
Air India warned that its long-haul network is under “severe operational and financial strain.” It is estimated that the Pakistan airspace closure is costing the airline $455 million annually in lost profit before tax, a major blow after a $439 million loss in 2024–25.
The airspace Air India seeks lies near some of the world’s highest mountains and is normally avoided for safety reasons, especially during decompression emergencies. It also falls under China’s Western Theater Command, which handles potential conflict with India and controls key military sites.
No foreign carrier has used Hotan airport in the past year, according to AirNav Radar data.
Aviation experts doubt China will approve the request due to the region’s difficult terrain, limited emergency options, and security sensitivities.
Global flight paths have narrowed due to conflicts. U.S. airlines cannot fly over Russia, giving Air India an advantage on India–U.S. routes. But that edge has evaporated since Pakistan closed its skies.
Air India suspended its Delhi–Washington service in August. Other long-haul routes face similar pressure, with their Mumbai–San Francisco and Bengaluru–San Francisco flights becoming “unviable” due to longer travel times and mandatory refueling stops.
Foreign carriers now offer similar or shorter journey times because they can fly over Pakistan. Air India says this is pushing passengers toward competitors.
Access to the Hotan route could reduce weekly losses by an estimated $1.13 million and restore up to 15% of cut capacity on key routes, including Delhi–New York and Delhi–Vancouver.
Air India has also asked the government for temporary financial support until Pakistan reopens its airspace. The airline is already facing cash constraints after placing $70 billion in aircraft orders.
It is also dealing with older tax disputes worth $725 million. A confidential notice in March warned that authorities could take “coercive steps,” including freezing assets, to recover dues.
Air India said the tax battles are adding to its cash flow pressures despite government assurances given during its 2022 privatization.