New Delhi, Sept. 29 -- India is turning to China for an alternative air corridor to Europe and North America amid Pakistan's closure of its airspace to Indian carriers for the past 15 months.

Civil aviation minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu on Tuesday said that diplomatic-level discussions are underway to secure access to Chinese airspace near Hotan in Xinjiang province.

"We are exploring alternate air spaces and Hotan is under discussion," Naidu said on the sidelines of a ministry event in New Delhi. "Diplomatic-level discussions are underway. We are strongly pushing for Hotan."

Under the broad routing being considered, wide-body aircraft could fly from northern India towards Leh, enter Chinese airspace, cross the Hotan area and then...