HONG KONG: Air India is requesting access to a restricted military airspace in China’s Xinjiang region to shorten flight paths, a move prompted by the ongoing ban on Indian carriers flying over Pakistan, a company document shows.
The airline, owned by Tata Group and Singapore Airlines, has faced rising fuel costs and longer journey times on international routes since April, when diplomatic tensions forced closure of Pakistan’s airspace to Indian carriers. Air India estimates the disruption could reduce annual profit before tax by $455 million, surpassing its fiscal 2024-25 loss of $439 million.
The request, submitted to Indian officials in late October, asks the government to seek China’s approval for alternative routing and emergency airport access in Hotan, Kashgar, and Urumqi. Officials hope the move could restore operational efficiency on long-haul flights to the U.S., Canada, and Europe.
The proposed Xinjiang route passes over some of the world’s highest terrain, exceeding 20,000 feet, and lies within the People’s Liberation Army’s Western Theater Command. Analysts note the region carries significant security and safety considerations, including missile and air-defence installations and limited emergency landing options.
Air India is attempting to rebuild its international network following the June crash of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner in Gujarat, which killed 260 passengers and temporarily curtailed the airline’s global operations. The recent resumption of direct India-China flights after a five-year hiatus adds a potential avenue for route expansion.
China’s foreign ministry declined to comment directly, while U.S. and Indian aviation authorities also did not respond to queries. Analysts say approval is uncertain given the terrain, military restrictions, and lack of civilian airport infrastructure along the proposed route.
The closure of Pakistan airspace has intensified the operational strain on Air India, which previously benefited from near-monopoly non-stop routes between India and North America after U.S. carriers curtailed flights over Russian airspace. The airline’s lobbying effort underscores the broader geopolitical and economic implications of restricted air corridors in South and Central Asia.
