{"publisher":{"name":"MediaBias News","url":"https://mediabias.news","methodology":"https://mediabias.news/methodology","editorialPrinciples":"https://mediabias.news/editorial-principles","corrections":"https://mediabias.news/corrections"},"scoreGuide":{"trust":"How well corroborated and evidenced the source reporting is. 0-100, higher is better.","critic":"Craft quality of the source journalism: context, balance, fact vs comment. 0-100, higher is better.","hype":"How far the source presentation runs ahead of substance. 0-100, LOWER IS BETTER.","scope":"Scores assess the original reporting this article was written from, not the truth of the underlying event and not the quality of this write-up."},"assessmentGuide":{"type":"coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis","factCheck":{"status":"not-performed","note":"Media Bias News compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It does not currently publish a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true."},"sourceFactuality":{"note":"Factuality values describe published ratings of the outlets that covered the story. They are not a factuality verdict on this story or its claims."}},"story":{"id":"https://mediabias.news/politics/india-explores-china-airspace-route-to-bypass-pakistan","slug":"india-explores-china-airspace-route-to-bypass-pakistan","url":"https://mediabias.news/politics/india-explores-china-airspace-route-to-bypass-pakistan","title":"India explores China airspace route to bypass Pakistan","subtitle":"Civil aviation minister says talks are ongoing for a shorter flight path over Xinjiang.","excerpt":"India is negotiating with China for an alternative air route over Xinjiang to mitigate the impact of Pakistan's continued closure of its airspace. The proposed route could significantly shorten flight times to Europe and North America.","category":"Politics","area":"India","publishedAt":"2026-09-29T14:25:30.769Z","sourceReportedAt":"2026-09-29T13:11:53.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-09-29T14:25:30.769Z","readTime":"3 min read","scores":{"trust":50,"critic":58,"hype":41,"notes":{"trust":"Central claim attributed to named minister; two independent outlets cited; one named source.","critic":"Most outlets used digests; one full report; some claims hedged with 'sources say'.","hype":"Headlines use 'ban' and 'explores' to create mild urgency; some mention of 'unexpected move'."}},"tags":["#IndiaChinaRelations","#Aviation","#PakistanAirspace","#XinjiangRoute","#InternationalTravel"],"entities":["Ram Mohan Naidu","China","India","Pakistan","Xinjiang","Hotan"],"body":[{"type":"key_takeaways","items":["India is exploring an alternative air route over China's Xinjiang region to reduce the impact of Pakistan's continued closure of its airspace.","Civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu confirmed that discussions are ongoing with China for a proposed corridor over Hotan in southwestern Xinjiang.","The closure of Pakistani airspace has forced Indian airlines to detour over the Arabian Sea, adding 45 minutes to two hours of extra flight time.","India is also considering a route through Bhutan as part of efforts to find alternative international flight paths."]},{"type":"paragraph","text":"India is exploring an alternative air route over China’s Xinjiang region to reduce the impact of Pakistan's continued closure of its airspace, civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu said. The closure, which followed an incident in April 2025, has forced Indian airlines operating flights to Europe and North America to detour over the Arabian Sea. This detour adds between 45 minutes and two hours of extra flight time, increasing operational costs and fuel consumption."},{"type":"paragraph","text":"The proposed corridor over Hotan in southwestern Xinjiang would offer a significantly shorter route, according to Naidu. Discussions on this route are ongoing between India and China, with India's external affairs ministry engaging with Chinese officials. India is also considering a route through Bhutan. Talks with China to establish an alternative air route through Xinjiang airspace have been ongoing for nearly a year."},{"type":"heading","text":"Disagreement on timeline"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"Hindustan Times reported that Ram Mohan Naidu did not indicate a timeline for the opening of the route or suggest that an agreement had been reached with China. Other reports stated that India has been negotiating with China for nearly a year to establish an alternative air route through Xinjiang airspace."},{"type":"heading","text":"What the coverage left out"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"None of the right-rated digests mention the estimated cost savings for airlines or the specific figure of ₹4,000 crore previously lost by Air India due to the Pakistan airspace closure, as reported by Hindustan Times. The right-rated digests also do not mention India considering a route through Bhutan."}],"basedOn":[{"sourceName":"tennews.in: National News Portal - Breaking News, Live News, Delhi News, Noida News, National News,","url":"https://tennews.in/india-in-talks-with-china-for-use-of-airspace-for-flights-amid-pakistan-closure","headline":"India in talks with China for use of airspace for flights amid Pakistan closure - tennews.in: National News Portal","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-29T15:01:34.000Z"},{"sourceName":"Yes Punjab","url":"https://yespunjab.com/india-in-talks-with-china-to-use-xinjiang-airspace-amid-continued-pakistan-airspace-closure","headline":"India in Talks With China to Use Xinjiang Airspace Amid Continued Pakistan Airspace Closure","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-29T14:43:13.000Z"},{"sourceName":"The Rahnuma Daily","url":"https://therahnuma.com/india-in-talks-with-china-for-use-of-airspace-for-flights-amid-pakistan-closure","headline":"India in talks with China for use of airspace for flights amid Pakistan closure","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-29T14:24:52.000Z"},{"sourceName":"bhaskarlive.in","url":"https://bhaskarlive.in/others/india-in-talks-with-china-for-use-of-airspace-for-flights-amid-pakistan-closure-2146500","headline":"India in talks with China for use of airspace for flights amid Pakistan closure","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-29T14:23:16.000Z"},{"sourceName":"namasthe telangana","url":"https://ntnews.com/national/no-need-for-pakistan-airspace-india-explores-new-flight-route-through-chinas-xinjiang-talks-underway-2523258","headline":"India | India Says Goodbye to Pakistan airspace.. 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