SAS Scandinavian Airlines (SK, Copenhagen Kastrup) has announced it has chosen the southern Mediterranean coastal city of Malaga as the location for its Spanish base.

The Scandinavian carrier will deploy its nascent SAS Scandinavian Airlines Ireland (London Heathrow) unit, currently undergoing certification with the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA), to run flights out of the Spanish leisure haven alongside a yet-to-be-named airport in London.

"The work is progressing as planned and we expect the first flight to be completed as part of the 2017/2018 winter program," the airline said in a statement. "When the bases are fully operational, we expect them to have the same underlying unit cost as our low-cost competitors."

SAS Ireland will operate a fleet of nine A320neo, sourced from its Scandinavian parent, for and on behalf of SAS under a wet-lease agreement.