HAINAN Airlines has received approval from US regulatory authorities to launch Beijing-Chicago services.

Scheduled to take off next year as the first-ever direct flights between Beijing and Chicago, the service will be Hainan Airlines' second non-stop American flight after Seattle.

According to a spokesperson from Hainan Airlines' Beijing office, the carrier plans to operate four-weekly services on the Chicago route, using Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

Meanwhile, Hainan Airlines will resume its services from Shenzhen to Sydney on October 29, with the introduction of thrice-weekly flights from Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport to Sydney International Airport.

The carrier operated Shenzhen-Sydney flights in 2011, but suspended them soon after due to lower-than-expected load factors.

The Shenzhen-Sydney flights will be operated using Airbus A330-300 aircraft, with a configuration of 30 premium-flatbed and 254 economy seats.