NEW DELHI, Feb 24: South Africa’s national carrier is laughing its way to the bank as Indian bluechip firms fly out their executives to the World Cup for the Indian team’s titanic clashes with England and Pakistan this week.

Officials from South Africa Airways on Monday said the airline was laying on extra flights to cater especially for the adrenalin-pumping showdown expected between arch-rivals India and Pakistan at Centurion on Saturday.

“We have deployed four additional flights this week to take care of cricket fans for the India-Pakistan clash,” Nalini Gupta, general manager of the airline’s Indian operations, said.

Gupta of South Africa Airways said the rush was also because of the India-England do-or-die match Wednesday at Durban’s Kingsmead ground.

England, who were thrashed by India at the Colombo, Sri Lanka mini World Cup, are all set to avenge their shock eight-wicket rout.

The airline executive said individual fans were hardly travelling from India on SAA’s wide-bodied planes to the World Cup.—AFP