ISLAMABAD: Air India has asked the Indian government to press China for access to sensitive airspace in Xinjiang to help cut costs and reduce flight times, according to a company document.
Indian media reported that the internal company document requests access to airspace near Hotan, Kashgar, and Urumqi in western China, which is controlled by the Chinese military.
The ban was put in place after an attack in Indian-occupied Kashmir on April 22, which India blamed on Pakistan. In response, India launched missile strikes into Pakistan in early May, leading to a brief conflict between the two nuclear-armed states.
It lasted four days, only ending with a ceasefire on May 10.
As a result of the airspace restrictions, some Air India routes are becoming financially unsustainable. The document detailed that the airline had to suspend one of its flights to the United States.
It also warned that other direct flights to US destinations are “becoming unviable” due to the added travel time. Many passengers have even shifted to foreign carriers that still have access to Pakistani airspace.
China’s foreign ministry has said it is unaware of the situation, according to the document.
Air India is also facing significant financial pressures from international regulatory authorities after a fatal crash killed more than 200 people this year. It also faces legal and financial burdens. The airline estimates that the $455 million impact from the airspace closure is substantial, especially given that its fiscal year 2024-25 pre-tax loss was $439 million, disclosed in a written response to the Indian Parliament by the Minister of State for Civil Aviation.
The national Indian carrier has requested temporary subsidies to help offset the financial impact until the Pakistani airspace is reopened, as per the document.
In 2019, a similar closure of Pakistani airspace for five months cost Air India and other Indian carriers at least $64 million, according to the Indian government.
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