Scandinavian Airlines to set up base in Ireland

Scandinavian Airlines (Sas) is to use Ireland as a launch pad from which to expand its services aimed at leisure travel passengers, in a bid to compete more directly with rival Norwegian Air.

Sas yesterday announced it plans to register planes in Ireland and set up bases in London and Spain to serve more leisure travellers at a lower cost to compete with expanding discount carriers including Norwegian Air Shuttle.

Sas is seeking an air-operator certificate in Ireland with sites in London and Spain that will initially provide a small number of departures to complement existing services starting next winter, the Stockholm-based company said.