Northwest Airlines will halt freighter services to Guangzhou, the capital city of the provincial area bordering Hong Kong, as of July 1, becoming the latest airline to cut regional flights and roll back services amid record fuel prices, according to a Hong Kong newspaper.

The move will enable Minnesota-headquartered Northwest to reduce fuel costs by mothballing the less fuel-efficient planes it currently flies to Guangzhou, the South China Morning Post reported, citing comments by airline officials.

Gilbert Chow, Northwest's Hong Kong general manager, said the south China cargo unit could not operate profitably amid the relentless rise in aviation fuel costs, the paper reported.

Northwest will shift operations to its north China air-cargo hub, operating 12 weekly freighter services between the U.S. and the Shanghai Pudong International Airport.

Word of the suspension of service comes just 18 months after the carrier shifted its freighter operations from Hong Kong to Guangzhou.

Hong Kong carrier Cathay Pacific Airlines said earlier this week it is exploring service reductions and the suspension of some routes to offset higher fuel costs. Chinese carriers Air China and China Eastern Airlines have reportedly stepped up their fuel-hedging operations to protect against higher fuel bills.

Photograph: A Boeing 747F operated by Northwest Cargo at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport on April 21, 2007. Photo contributed by CARNOC.com message board member.