Hainan Airlines still is exploring the possibility of joining an alliance although it has not made a firm decision, according to Liang Pubin, GM of the carrier's Brussels office.

"We have a team that is exploring the possibility," he said. "The general idea is that it is a necessity to join an alliance, but we have to research the actual advantage and disadvantages of becoming an alliance member and then of course, we have to see what the possibilities are. It's not because you want to join a certain alliance that you can join."

There has been speculation that HNA Group, China's fourth-largest aviation company with a fleet of 144 aircraft and four airlines (Hainan, China Xinhua Airlines, Chang'an Airlines and Shanxi Airlines), has expressed interest in joining oneworld, but Liang would not confirm.

He also said the carrier's long-haul network expansion is on course. A four-times-weekly Beijing-Seattle will commence on Jun. 7 -- Hainan's first North American flight -- and a four-times-weekly Beijing-Berlin Tegel begins on Sep. 5.

The airline has applied for rights to a thrice-weekly Beijing-Cairo and a twice-weekly Beijing-Guangzhou-Johannesburg, both aboard A340s.

It also is seeking regulatory approval to launch thrice-weekly Beijing-Shanghai-Brussels to complement its current four-times-weekly PEK-BRU. The latter service recently was upgraded from a 767 to a new A330-200 and is slated for another upgrade to A340s this summer, depending on the arrival of the three ex-Cathay Pacific Airways A340s it has leased from ILFC.