Malaysian Airlines will decide in three months whether to join a global airline alliance, according to new managing director Ahmad Fuaad Dahlan.

“For strategic reasons, we have to look at the possibility of getting into a mega-alliance,” Fuaad said.

Malaysian Airlines is the only major carrier in the Pacific region that isn’t in an alliance, Fuaad said.

As an alliance member, Malaysian Airlines would be able to offer passengers better connectivity and benefits such as frequent flyer miles that can be used on other airlines.

In other news, AirAsia and Singapore’s DBS Group have launched a credit card that will allow passengers to redeem flights on the regional budget carrier through a frequent flyer program.

The AirAsia Credit Card will also offer travelers privileges and discounts at some department stores in the region to which the carrier flies, the two companies said in a statement.

AirAsia initially served the Malaysian market when it began in 2001, but is rapidly expanding its number of intra-Asian routes.