Hong Kong - Weakening demand and mounting losses have led Hong Kong Airlines to suspend flights to three cities in China, a media report said Thursday.

The regional carrier will halt services to Xian, Chengdu and Chongqing when the winter schedule takes effect on Sunday, the South China Morning Post said.

Flights to Xian will be restored next summer.

Hong Kong Airlines together with rival carrier Hong Kong Express Airways are both partly owned by China's Hainan Airlines Group.

The two carriers, which have already halted flights to Xiamen and Nanchang because of insufficient demand, will operate services to 13 cities including Shanghai, Guilin and Hangzhou. All but flights to Haikou on Hainan Island are loss-making. (dpa)