SAS unveils name, plans for new low-cost airline By MATT MOORE The Associated Press 3/19/03 10:50 AM STOCKHOLM, Sweden (AP) -- Scandinavian Airlines System AB said Wednesday its new low-cost airline will be called "snowflake" and start flying March 30 in direct competition with European no-frills leader Ryanair. The new airline, announced in December, will offer flights from Stockholm, Sweden, and Copenhagen, Denmark, to destinations in Europe. The lowest-priced tickets, including taxes and fees, will be 580 kronor ($67). SAS, the joint carrier of Sweden, Denmark and Norway, said snowflake is targeting customers who want to travel inexpensively to other European cities. The service will operate as a unit of SAS with four Boeing 737-800s that can seat 150 passengers each. Emulating Ryanair's own successful spartan formula, snowflake will feature one-class cabins. Snacks and drinks won't be free. Tickets can be purchased only on the Internet. Snowflake's destinations from Copenhagen will include Spain, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo. The Stockholm flights will connect to Spain, Greece, Italy, Hungary, Ireland, Turkey, France and the Czech Republic. Snowflake expects to open a similar range of routes from Oslo, Norway. SAS said customers had already purchased 90,000 tickets for snowflake flights. In January, Ryanair chose Skavsta airport, about 60 miles south of Stockholm, to be its latest European hub and offered to undercut SAS fares drastically. The Dublin, Ireland-based airline is operating 30 flights daily between Skavsta and Denmark, France, Germany, Norway and Scotland. It also plans soon to launch its first route to Finland. ------ On the Net: Snowflake, www.flysnowflake.com Ryanair, www.ryanair.com Roger EWROPS