Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu on Tuesday confirmed that India is in active discussions with China over the use of airspace in the Xinjiang region — specifically the Hotan route — to help Indian commercial airlines avoid the costly and time-consuming detours caused by the continued closure of Pakistani airspace. The talks, which sources say have been ongoing for over a year, have taken on new urgency as Pakistan extended its airspace ban on Indian aircraft by another month.

'We are looking at other alternatives. Discussion on the Hotan route in China is going on between the two countries. Our External Affairs Ministry is engaging with the country. Let us see how it goes, but we are trying alternatives,' Naidu told journalists.

Why Pakistani Airspace Closure Matters

Pakistan shut its airspace to Indian aircraft in April 2025, following Operation Sindhoor — India's military response to the 2025 Pahalgam terror attack — which targeted terror camps deep inside Pakistani territory. The closure has forced Indian airlines operating flights to western countries to reroute, significantly increasing both flight duration and fuel costs. Two weeks ago, Pakistan extended the restrictions by another month amid continuing bilateral tensions.

The Hotan Route and Diplomatic Momentum

The Hotan corridor in China's Xinjiang province offers a potential shortcut for Indian flights heading westward. The timing of the talks is notable — they come shortly after Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, signalling a period of cautious diplomatic re-engagement between the two neighbours. The External Affairs Ministry is leading the engagement with Beijing on the airspace question, with civil aviation authorities working in parallel.

Broader India-China Air Connectivity Revival

The Hotan discussion sits within a wider normalisation of India-China air links, which had been disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent border tensions. IndiGo was the first Indian carrier to restore direct India-China connectivity, resuming services between Kolkata and Guangzhou in October 2025, followed by the Delhi-Guangzhou route in November.

Air India resumed direct flights between Delhi and Shanghai on 1 February, ending a nearly six-year gap, initially at four flights per week before scaling to five per week from 29 March. Separately, China Southern Airlines announced it would resume direct flights between Guangzhou and New Delhi from 21 September, with the carrier operating more than 100 weekly flights across eight round-trip routes in South Asia.

What Happens Next

The outcome of the Hotan route negotiations will depend on how swiftly diplomatic channels translate intent into a formal agreement. Industry watchers note that even a partial resolution — granting overflight rights rather than full landing access — could meaningfully cut flight times and operating costs for Indian carriers. With Pakistani airspace showing no near-term sign of reopening, the pressure on the Centre to secure an alternative corridor will only intensify.