DOHA (AFP) – Qatar expects up to 200,000 air passengers a day during the World Cup, authorities said yesterday, with airlines across the Gulf organising scores of shuttle flights to bring fans in.
In a major operation to cope with the four-week long football tournament, Qatar’s Tourism Minister and Qatar Airways Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker said some routes to countries not involved in the 32-nation tournament would be halted and others reduced.
Baker said Qatar’s Hamad International Airport and the older Doha International Airport would see capacity doubled to over 200,000 people a day.
With Qatar under mounting pressure to find room for fans, Saudia, Kuwait Airways, flydubai and Oman Air will organise over 160 daily shuttle flights from November 20 to bring supporters on one-day trips to see matches.
Officials estimate that over 20,000 fans could come in each day on shuttles from Gulf neighbours.