Wed Nov 19 07:57:09 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary of the text followed by a rewritten news article:

Summary:

Air India is struggling financially due to the closure of Pakistani airspace to Indian carriers, increasing fuel costs and flight times significantly. To mitigate these losses and restore profitability, Air India is lobbying the Indian government to diplomatically request China to allow its planes to use a sensitive military airspace zone in Xinjiang. This alternative route could significantly shorten flight times to the U.S., Canada, and Europe. However, the request is considered unusual due to the military sensitivity of the airspace, its proximity to high mountains and China’s general airspace restrictions. Air India is also seeking government subsidies and resolution of legacy tax issues.
News Article:

Air India Seeks China’s Permission to Fly Through Sensitive Xinjiang Airspace to Cut Costs

NEW DELHI/HONG KONG – Air India is appealing to the Indian government to ask China to allow it to use a restricted military airspace in Xinjiang province. The move is aimed at slashing fuel costs and flight times, which have soared since Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian carriers in late April.

The closure, stemming from heightened diplomatic tensions, has cost Air India an estimated $455 million annually, according to a company document reviewed by Reuters. Some long-haul routes have seen fuel costs rise by nearly 30% and journey times increase by up to three hours.

The airline, recently acquired by the Tata Group and Singapore Airlines, is seeking access to the Hotan route within Xinjiang, an area controlled by China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA). The airspace lies within the Western Theater Command, equipped with extensive missile, drone and air-defence assets and shares some airports with civilian aircraft, military analysts say. Air India is hoping to secure access to emergency airports in Xinjiang, including Hotan, Kashgar, and Urumqi, as well.

According to the document, Air India believes this route could significantly reduce flight times to North America and Europe, and would save the airline an estimated $1.13 million per week. The airline is recovering from the crash of an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner that crashed in Gujarat in June, killing 260 people and forcing it to briefly cut flights for safety checks. However, the extra flight time has resulted in “passengers shifting to foreign carriers due to shorter flight time as they have the benefit of Pakistan overflight.”

However, the request is considered a long shot. The airspace is adjacent to some of the world’s highest mountains and the Chinese military maintains tight control over its airspace. The request comes weeks after direct India-China flights resumed after a five-year hiatus following a Himalayan border clash between the nations. “Air India can try, but it’s doubtful China will accede” to access given the region’s terrain, lack of emergency airports and possibility of security issues, said Shukor Yusof, founder of aviation consultancy Endau Analytics.

In addition to seeking access to Chinese airspace, Air India is also lobbying for government subsidies to offset the impact of the Pakistani airspace closure and assistance in resolving legacy tax liabilities.

Neither the Chinese foreign ministry, Air India, civil aviation authorities in India, China and Pakistan responded to Reuters’ queries.

Read More