In a new record, the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA) has reported that over 7,000 flights have operated to and from Doha in the first week of FIFA World Cup 2022. The QCAA estimates the second week will cross the 12,000 mark during the course of the tournament.
“With the start of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, air traffic at both Hamad International Airport and Doha International Airport witnessed a significant increase, QCAA said in a statement.
Many international airlines have increased their scheduled and charter operations in the wake of the World Cup. Airlines such as Lufthansa, Air France, Finnair, and KLM have almost doubled their daily operations.
“The measures implemented by Air Navigation Department at Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA) have ensured a smooth operation amid a number of air traffic movements during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022,” an official quoted
On December 1, 2022, over 900 flights were recorded to and from the two Doha airports, the airspace of the country at present can handle over 100 flights in an hour, enabling them to land at the two airports, as per the Ministry of Transport records.
Speaking to Qatar Radio, Al Eshaq from Air Navigation Department at QCAA said: “The airspace was designed with this capacity for mega sporting event and Qatar National Vision 2030. Air paths for arrival and departure flights have been increased from 13 to 17. The capacity of the aircraft waiting area in the air also increased from three to nine areas, to ensure the air traffic flow.”
“Doha Flight Information Region (FIR) has contributed greatly in increasing air traffic flow in the international water of the north part of the country,” Al Eshaq added.