New Delhi: Air India is asking the Indian government to open talks with China to allow its aircraft to fly through the airspace over Xinjiang, as rising costs and route disruptions continue to strain the airline’s finances.

The request comes after Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian carriers in April, forcing Air India to take long detours on flights to the United States, Canada and Europe. These longer routes have increased flying time by up to three hours on some journeys and sharply raised fuel expenses. According to internal estimates, the airline is facing an annual pre tax loss of about 455 million dollars because of the detour, a figure that is higher than its losses in the previous financial year.

Air India has asked for permission to use Chinese airports in Hotan, Kashgar and Urumqi for overflights. These routes were used by Indian carriers many years ago but have fallen under stricter military control as the region now comes under China’s Western Theatre Command. Aviation experts believe China is unlikely to approve civilian use of the area because of the mountainous terrain and security sensitivities.

The airline has also requested a temporary government subsidy to help cover the additional operational costs. At the same time, it is dealing with older tax disputes amounting to about 725 million dollars. Notices from the tax authorities have added further pressure on the company’s cash flow.

The ongoing challenges have forced the airline to review its long haul network. Some flights, including services from Delhi to Washington and from Mumbai and Bengaluru to San Francisco, have become difficult to operate profitably compared to foreign airlines that can still fly through Pakistani airspace.

These financial setbacks come at a time when Air India is also recovering from a major accident earlier this year, which affected public confidence and added to its operational burden. Industry reports suggest the carrier may require additional support from its owners, the Tata Group and Singapore Airlines, to stabilise operations.

The Indian government is yet to say whether it will raise the airspace issue with China. Meanwhile, there is no indication of when Pakistan might reopen its skies for Indian airlines, leaving Air India uncertain about when it can return to normal flight paths.