Traveling on a budget is never easy, but if you're routing anywhere through China or southeast Asia, then you may want to consider a layover in Hong Kong. Hon Kong Express Airways, Ltd has moved to abandon its now unprofitable service routes in favor of cheap budget flights that might take a serious bite out of your travel costs.

Hong Kong Express Airways Ltd., controlled by Hainan-based HNA Group Co., seeks to tap booming demand for cheap fares in Asia with the launch of budget flights in October.

The Hong Kong-based airline is abandoning the full-service model even as some budget carriers struggle to take off in the very competitive market. On Tuesday, ANA Holdings Inc. said it would end its unprofitable low-cost carrier venture with Malaysia’s AirAsia Bhd. in Japan, a lucrative but heavily regulated market.

Hong Kong Express plans to launch budget services from Hong Kong to Kunming and Chongqing in China as well as Malaysia’s Kota Kinabalu, in addition to existing flights to Guilin, Taichung and Sanya.

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