--- title: "India explores China airspace route to bypass Pakistan" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/india-explores-china-airspace-route-to-bypass-pakistan" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/india-explores-china-airspace-route-to-bypass-pakistan" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/india-explores-china-airspace-route-to-bypass-pakistan.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/india-explores-china-airspace-route-to-bypass-pakistan" category: "Politics" area: "India" published: "2026-09-29T14:25:30.769Z" source_reported: "2026-09-29T13:11:53.000Z" updated: "2026-09-29T14:25:30.769Z" trust_score: 50 critic_score: 58 hype_score: 41 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-29T15:30:25.734288+00:00" --- # India explores China airspace route to bypass Pakistan *Civil aviation minister says talks are ongoing for a shorter flight path over Xinjiang.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 50 of 100, higher is better. Central claim attributed to named minister; two independent outlets cited; one named source. - Craft 58 of 100, higher is better. Most outlets used digests; one full report; some claims hedged with 'sources say'. - Hype 41 of 100, lower is better. Headlines use 'ban' and 'explores' to create mild urgency; some mention of 'unexpected move'. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - 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. 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. 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. ## Disagreement on timeline 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. ## What the coverage left out 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. ## Who covered it Shares of the 8 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 0% (0) - Centre: 12% (1) - Right: 88% (7) 11 of 19 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-29T15:30:25.734288+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 6 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-29T15:45:11.299Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left No separate framing summary. ### Centre - The Hindustan Times report, which is the only full report provided, led with civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu stating that India is pursuing a Xinjiang air route with China to mitigate the Pakistan airspace ban. The report detailed the impact of Pakistan's airspace closure, including the added flight time and operational costs for Indian airlines. It quoted Naidu confirming discussions with China and the external affairs ministry's engagement. The report also mentioned that the proposed Hotan corridor would offer a significantly shorter route and noted that any new corridor would require agreement and coordination between the countries. The report did not include a timeline for the route's opening or suggest an agreement had been reached. ### Right - Right-rated outlets India Today, Latestly, Tribune India, and NDTV emphasised that India is in talks with China over a Xinjiang air route amid Pakistan's airspace ban. These reports, which are digests, highlighted that the move could offer Indian carriers another option and potentially shorten flight times. Sources indicated that discussions on alternative flight paths are ongoing. NDTV's digest mentioned the timing of the talks in relation to Chinese president Xi Jinping's attendance at the BRICS Summit in New Delhi. **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 7 - high: 1 - unknown: 11 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [tennews.in: National News Portal - Breaking News, Live News, Delhi News, Noida News, National News,](https://tennews.in/india-in-talks-with-china-for-use-of-airspace-for-flights-amid-pakistan-closure) — India in talks with China for use of airspace for flights amid Pakistan closure - tennews.in: National News Portal - [Yes Punjab](https://yespunjab.com/india-in-talks-with-china-to-use-xinjiang-airspace-amid-continued-pakistan-airspace-closure) — India in Talks With China to Use Xinjiang Airspace Amid Continued Pakistan Airspace Closure - [The Rahnuma Daily](https://therahnuma.com/india-in-talks-with-china-for-use-of-airspace-for-flights-amid-pakistan-closure) — India in talks with China for use of airspace for flights amid Pakistan closure - [bhaskarlive.in](https://bhaskarlive.in/others/india-in-talks-with-china-for-use-of-airspace-for-flights-amid-pakistan-closure-2146500) — India in talks with China for use of airspace for flights amid Pakistan closure - [namasthe telangana](https://ntnews.com/national/no-need-for-pakistan-airspace-india-explores-new-flight-route-through-chinas-xinjiang-talks-underway-2523258) — India | India Says Goodbye to Pakistan airspace.. New Flight Route From China - [The Week](https://theweek.in/news/india/2026/09/29/india-xinjiang-air-route-pakistan-airspace-ban-iran-closure.html) — As India-China ties improve, an alternative route over Xinjiang's Hotan ... - [Sangbad Pratidin](https://sangbadpratidin.in/india/now-india-in-talks-with-china-for-alternate-route-amid-pak-airspace-ban/pid/1361911) — Pakistan's Ban Is a Bit of a Concern, Now China Is Opening Its Airspace for India! - [ABP News](https://news.abplive.com/news/no-need-for-pakistani-airspace-india-explores-new-flight-route-through-china-s-xinjiang-1868935) — No Need For Pak Airspace: India Explores New Flight Route Through China’s Xinjiang - [Social News XYZ](https://socialnews.xyz/2026/09/29/india-in-talks-with-china-for-use-of-airspace-for-flights-amid-pakistan-closure) — India in talks with China for use of airspace for flights amid Pakistan closure - [Unknown](https://aajtak.in/world/story/india-china-xinjiang-airspace-alternative-air-route-negotiations-ntc-acwi-rpti-2656580-2026-09-29) — India Looking to Counter Pakistan, Talks with China on Airspace - [India Today](https://indiatoday.in/india/story/india-china-xinjiang-route-talks-pakistan-airspace-ban-indian-airlines-3005837-2026-09-29) — India, China in talks over Xinjiang air route amid Pakistan airspace ban - [Moneycontrol](https://moneycontrol.com/news/india/india-explores-xinjiang-air-route-to-cut-pakistan-airspace-detour-civil-aviation-minister-naidu-says-talks-with-china-underway-14041233.html) — India explores Xinjiang air route to cut Pakistan airspace detour; Civil Aviation Minister Naidu says talks with China underway - [ODISHA BYTES](https://odishabytes.com/india-eyes-hotan-air-corridor-in-china-as-alternative-to-pakistani-air-space) — India Eyes Hotan Air Corridor In China As Alternative To Pakistani Air Space - [Latestly](https://latestly.com/india/news/india-in-talks-with-china-to-explore-alternate-air-route-amid-pakistan-airspace-ban-say-sources-7625708.html) — India in Talks With China To Explore Alternate Air Route Amid Pakistan Airspace Ban, Say Sources | 📰 LatestLY - [Hindustan Times](https://hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-pursues-xinjiang-air-route-with-china-to-mitigate-pak-airspace-bannaidu-101790684427017.html) — India pursues Xinjiang air route with China to mitigate Pakistan airspace ban: Naidu - [Tribune India](https://tribuneindia.com/news/india/india-explores-alternative-flight-route-via-china-amid-pakistan-airspace-ban) — India explores alternative flight route via China amid Pakistan airspace ban: Sources - The Tribune - [NDTV](https://ndtv.com/india-news/india-in-talks-with-china-for-alternate-route-amid-pak-airspace-ban-sources-12114705) — India In Talks With China For Alternate Route Amid Pak Airspace Ban: Sources - [Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd](https://asianetnews.com/news-money/pakistan-airspace-closure-india-explores-china-bhutan-alternative-routes-articleshow-db8tokh) — Pakistan's Airspace Remains Closed; India's Unexpected Move, Country Seeks Alternative Route Through China's Xinjiang - [The Free Press Journal](https://freepressjournal.in/business/india-explores-china-airspace-route-over-xinjiang-amid-pakistan-airspace-restrictions) — India Explores China Airspace Route Over Xinjiang Amid Pakistan Airspace Restrictions ## Questions **Why is India exploring an alternative air route?** India is exploring an alternative air route to bypass Pakistan's airspace, which has been closed to Indian carriers. This closure forces longer detours over the Arabian Sea, adding significant flight time and operational costs for airlines flying to Europe and North America. **What is the proposed alternative route?** India is negotiating with China for a proposed air corridor over Hotan in southwestern Xinjiang. This route is expected to offer a significantly shorter path for flights to Europe and North America compared to the current detours. **How long have these negotiations been ongoing?** Discussions between India and China regarding an alternative air route through Xinjiang airspace have been ongoing for nearly a year. India's external affairs ministry is actively engaging with Chinese officials on the matter. **Are there other alternative routes being considered?** Yes, in addition to exploring the route over China's Xinjiang region, India is also considering a potential air route through Bhutan. This indicates a broader effort to find multiple alternative flight paths. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/india-explores-china-airspace-route-to-bypass-pakistan. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "India explores China airspace route to bypass Pakistan", https://mediabias.news/politics/india-explores-china-airspace-route-to-bypass-pakistan