Air France to fly fans to World Cup

Air France A380 superjumbos will operate seven return flights between Paris and Johannesburg, boosted by three extra trips during the World Cup, according to officials.

"We plan seven A380 round trips a week which will be boosted by three additional ones by Boeing 777s during the World Cup," said the airline's deputy chief Bruno Matheu after the A380 completed its first Paris-Johannesburg flight.

Pierre-Henri Gourgeon, the firm's director, said the Netherlands squad would fly by superjumbo to the June 11-July 11 World Cup and the French squad were likely to do the same.

The superjumbo, the world's biggest passenger plane that can carry up to 853 passengers, has been dogged by glitches but there was no repeat of past troubles on this flight, said Mr Gourgeon.