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India is exploring a possible air route through China’s Xinjiang region near Hotan to bypass Pakistan’s continuing airspace restrictions. Since the ban began, flights from northern and western India to Europe and North America have taken longer routes over the Arabian Sea, Oman and Central Asia. That means higher fuel costs, longer flight times and greater pressure on airline operations. The proposed Hotan corridor could shorten some journeys, but it would pass through sensitive Chinese airspace close to India’s Ladakh frontier and the disputed Aksai Chin region. India and China have discussed the possibility for nearly a year, but no agreement has been reached. The route could offer commercial relief, yet it would also give Beijing significant control over India’s aviation access. This is not merely an air-traffic decision. It is a strategic gamble shaped by Pakistan’s ban, China’s leverage and India’s search for greater freedom in the skies. Shreya Chandra has more