Qatar Airways is fully geared up to meet the rush of travellers during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, which the country is hosting later this year, Group Chief Executive HE Akbar al-Baker has said.
“We are opening a way for airlines, where we have investments, to operate in order for us to release the capacity for deployment to some other destinations during the key global sporting event," he told reporters on the sidelines of the 78th IATA AGM in Doha on Tuesday.
HE al-Baker continued, “We are also encouraging our regional friends to start having shuttles to Doha International Airport (old airport) during the World Cup.
“A few weeks ago, Qatar Airways tied up with flydubai, Kuwait Airways, Oman Air and Saudia to connect FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 match ticket holders to Doha via Match Day Shuttle Flights."
By choosing to book a Match Day Shuttle flight, fans will arrive in the morning and depart in the evening, with no hotel accommodation required. Additionally, a no check-in baggage policy will “simplify an easy-in, easy-out travel itinerary” for passengers.
HE al-Baker said Qatar Airways would cut flights to destinations that are irrelevant to the FIFA World Cup, so that the national airline could increase flights to countries taking part.
“Some of Qatar Airways' routes to countries not involved in the 32-nation tournament would be halted and others reduced,” he said.
Earlier, HE al-Baker told Gulf Times that new international airlines have already applied for scheduled flights during the winter season to start operating to Doha.
He, however, did not name them. “Wait… and you will get to know. Everyone wants to come,” he said.
HE al-Baker also said football fans from countries outside of the GCC will be arriving on both scheduled and charter flights.
“Depending on the capacity of the runway, they will land either at Hamad International or Doha International airports. Some will land at HIA and some at Doha,” he said.
More than 20,000 fans could come in each day on shuttle flights from neighbouring GCC countries of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait and Oman.
The tournament will be held across eight world-class stadiums which are designed to inspire the various symbols of Qatari and Arab culture.
“We are opening a way for airlines, where we have investments, to operate in order for us to release the capacity for deployment to some other destinations during the key global sporting event," he told reporters on the sidelines of the 78th IATA AGM in Doha on Tuesday.
HE al-Baker continued, “We are also encouraging our regional friends to start having shuttles to Doha International Airport (old airport) during the World Cup.
“A few weeks ago, Qatar Airways tied up with flydubai, Kuwait Airways, Oman Air and Saudia to connect FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 match ticket holders to Doha via Match Day Shuttle Flights."
By choosing to book a Match Day Shuttle flight, fans will arrive in the morning and depart in the evening, with no hotel accommodation required. Additionally, a no check-in baggage policy will “simplify an easy-in, easy-out travel itinerary” for passengers.
HE al-Baker said Qatar Airways would cut flights to destinations that are irrelevant to the FIFA World Cup, so that the national airline could increase flights to countries taking part.
“Some of Qatar Airways' routes to countries not involved in the 32-nation tournament would be halted and others reduced,” he said.
Earlier, HE al-Baker told Gulf Times that new international airlines have already applied for scheduled flights during the winter season to start operating to Doha.
He, however, did not name them. “Wait… and you will get to know. Everyone wants to come,” he said.
HE al-Baker also said football fans from countries outside of the GCC will be arriving on both scheduled and charter flights.
“Depending on the capacity of the runway, they will land either at Hamad International or Doha International airports. Some will land at HIA and some at Doha,” he said.
More than 20,000 fans could come in each day on shuttle flights from neighbouring GCC countries of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait and Oman.
The tournament will be held across eight world-class stadiums which are designed to inspire the various symbols of Qatari and Arab culture.