India Seeks China Airspace Detour

Indian airlines may need longer routings while Pakistan’s airspace remains closed, raising delay, connection and fare risks on long-haul trips.

Indian international travellers face fresh uncertainty after reports on September 29, 2026 that India is looking to China for a possible way around Pakistan’s airspace closure. The restriction has been forcing Indian airlines to use longer routings on some international services, particularly flights heading west or northwest from India. That can mean longer journey times, higher fuel costs, tighter aircraft schedules and a greater chance of missed connections. For passengers, the immediate priority is not panic, but careful monitoring and smarter trip planning.

What Has Changed

Pakistan’s airspace is a strategically important corridor for many flights between India and destinations in Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East and North America. When that corridor is unavailable to Indian carriers, airlines must plan alternative routings that can be longer, less fuel-efficient and more complex for crews and aircraft scheduling. The reported Indian approach to China suggests officials are exploring an eastern or northern workaround rather than relying only on longer western detours. However, any such solution would require operational approvals and airline-specific route planning before passengers see meaningful schedule improvements.

Routes Most Likely To Feel The Impact

The most exposed travellers are those flying between India and Europe or North America, especially on services departing from major Indian gateways such as Delhi and Mumbai. Flights that normally rely on efficient northwest routings can be affected by extra distance, revised flight plans or knock-on delays from aircraft arriving late on earlier sectors. Some India-to-Middle East and India-to-Central Asia journeys may also be affected depending on the exact routing used by the airline. Even if your route does not pass near Pakistan, your aircraft may be operating a rotation that was delayed earlier in the day.

What This Means For Travellers

For most passengers, the disruption is likely to show up as longer flight times, retimed departures, late arrivals or reduced connection reliability rather than immediate mass cancellations. Airlines may also adjust payload, fuel planning or departure times on longer sectors, which can affect baggage handling, cargo capacity or operational margins on certain flights. Travellers with same-day onward plans should be especially cautious, because a manageable delay on one leg can become expensive if it breaks a separate ticket. If you are travelling for a wedding, cruise, exam, work meeting or medical appointment, consider arriving a day earlier where possible.