India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has engaged Chinese counterparts for more than 12 months to negotiate access to the Xinjiang airspace corridor, an effort aimed at circumventing newly imposed Pakistani airspace restrictions.
Pakistan has tightened controls on flights between Delhi and Karachi since May, forcing Indian carriers to take longer routes that add roughly 90 minutes to each leg.
The proposed corridor would pass near Hotan, a southwestern Xinjiang city, and could offer a direct path that cuts the current flight distance by about 400 kilometres.
Chinese officials in Beijing have expressed openness to the idea, citing mutual economic benefits, while Indian airlines report potential cost savings and improved scheduling.
The MEA plans to submit a formal proposal to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation by the end of September, after which regulatory approval will determine the route's operational status.