With more than eight months still to go before the kickoff of the 2010 Soccer World Cup, many long-haul airlines are booked to capacity on South African flights.

British Airways, Emirates, Delta and Lufthansa confirm they are already fully booked, particularly near the start and end of the tournament.

Many airlines also expect 100% load factors ahead of next month’s World Cup draw in Cape Town.

“Capacity offered by the daily Lufthansa seasonal flights reintroduced at the end of October this year between Cape Town and Frankfurt has been absorbed,” Gabriel Leupold, MD Southern and Eastern Africa, said at the weekend. “December and January bookings show an average seat load factor of over 90%.”

Fouad Caunhye, Emirates regional manager Southern Africa, said Emirates World Cup flights to SA were heavily booked. He hinted that Emirates might consider using an Airbus A380 on South African routes, but said it was too soon commit to a larger aircraft or additional flights.

Source: www.bgusinessday.co.za