Overview
- Air India asked the government to secure overflight and diversion rights via Hotan, Kashgar and Urumqi in Xinjiang, and China’s foreign ministry said it was not aware of such a request.
- Pakistan’s airspace closure since late April has forced detours that add up to three hours and increase fuel use by as much as 29% on long‑haul routes.
- The carrier estimates a $455 million annual pre‑tax impact from the reroutings, after reporting a $439 million loss for fiscal 2024–25.
- Network fallout includes the August suspension of Delhi–Washington and warnings that nonstop Mumbai and Bengaluru services to San Francisco are becoming unviable with a Kolkata technical stop, alongside capacity trims of up to 15% on routes like New York and Vancouver.
- The sought corridor cuts through militarised, high‑altitude airspace under the PLA’s Western Theater Command, which analysts say makes approval unlikely, and Air India is also seeking a temporary subsidy and help addressing $725 million in legacy tax claims.