SAS says to cut flights, jobs at Spanair unit

STOCKHOLM, July 16 (Reuters) - Scandinavian airline SAS (SAS.ST) said on Wednesday it would ground 15 aircraft in September and October and cut about 900 jobs, giving it a 90 million euro ($143 million) earnings boost in 2009.

SAS, which last month abandoned a plan to sell Spanair, will cancel nine unprofitable routes.

"Spanair's management has announced today a feasibility plan to face the current crisis that the airline industry is going through as a consequence of the high fuel prices and the decrease of demand," SAS said.