Air India approached the Indian government with a request to help the airline obtain access to restricted military airspace in China’s Xinjiang region to shorten its international flight routes, according to a Reuters report, citing an internal company document. This request comes at a time when the airline is facing higher operating costs after Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian carriers.

The appeal was submitted in late October and reviewed by Reuters, and it comes soon after India and China resumed direct flights following a five-year pause.

The closure of Pakistani airspace has had a major financial effect on Air India. The report says fuel costs have gone up by almost 29 per cent, and some long-haul flights are taking up to three extra hours. The airline warned that this restriction could cost it around $455 million every year, which is more than its reported loss of $439 million in the 2024-2025 financial year.

To reduce this impact, Air India is looking at alternate routes that would give it emergency access to airports in Hotan, Kashgar, and Urumqi in Xinjiang, with the aim of improving connections to the United States, Canada, and Europe. The internal document said, “Air India's long-haul network is under severe operational and financial strain ... Securing Hotan route will be a strategic option,” according to the Reuters report.

The airspace the airline wants to use is located among some of the tallest mountains in the world, many of which rise above 20,000 feet, and most international airlines avoid this area because of safety concerns in case of decompression. It is also controlled by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Western Theatre Command, which oversees military operations and shares some airports with civilian services.

Aviation specialists are unsure if China will approve the request. Shukor Yusof, the founder of Endau Analytics, said, “Air India can try, but it's doubtful China will accede” because of the difficult terrain, the limited emergency options, and possible security concerns.

The closure of Pakistani airspace has already forced Air India to suspend flights such as the Delhi-Washington route in August, and assess the future of others. Direct flights from Mumbai and Bengaluru to San Francisco are also reportedly “becoming unviable” because of an additional three hours of travel, including a stop in Kolkata.

If approved, the Hotan route could reduce fuel use, shorten flying time, and help bring back some of the passenger and cargo capacity that has dropped by almost 15 per cent on routes like New York-Delhi and Vancouver-Delhi. Air India estimates that opening this route could cut weekly losses by about $1.13 million.

The airline is also seeking a “temporary subsidy till Pakistan airspace opens” and assistance with old tax disputes. Although the Tata group was given assurances during the 2022 takeover, the airline still faces tax claims worth $725 million.