Hainan Airlines has applied to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to start two nonstop services from Southwest China's Chongqing to Los Angeles and New York in the first half of 2017, after the Chinese government designated it for the routes over rival Air China.

The Haikou-based carrier has received approval from the Chinese aviation watchdog to operate the two U.S. routes.

Pending DOT approval, the Haikou-based carrier will launch the Chongqing-Los Angeles service in the first quarter of 2017, followed by the Chongqing-New York route in the second quarter.

Hainan Airlines plans to operate the Los Angeles and New York services thrice weekly on each route. Both routes will be operated with Boeing 787 aircraft in a two-class configuration.

In November, both Hainan Airlines and Air China had submitted applications to the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), seeking rights to launch Chongqing-Los Angeles route.

China typically designates only one Chinese carrier to operate on long-haul international routes.

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