Three Chinese carriers have filed applications with the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), seeking rights for new international services to Maldives and Japan.

China Southern Airlines intends to launch a daily Guangzhou-Colombo-Maldives service in April 2017, using Airbus A330s, Boeing 777-300ERs, or 787s, according to an announcement released on the website of the CAAC.

Spring Airlines has applied to extend its existing thrice-weekly Ningbo-Nagoya route to Guiyang from April.

Besides, Tianjin Airlines is seeking rights to add Tianjin to its Dalian-Kitakyushu route starting this March.

The Tianjin-based carrier plans to operate the Kitakyushu service thrice times weekly, using A320s, the CAAC said.

The aviation watchdog added Tianjin Binhai International Airport will be able to resume applications for new services and additional frequencies from March 1, after meeting the regulator's on-time performance standards for three straight months.

The Air Transportation Department of CAAC is soliciting public comments on the applications until 5:00 p.m. on February 28, 2017.