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Saudia to operate hundreds of extra flights during FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

From November 21, the airline will operate 60 special daily flights for fans which will run from both Riyadh and Jeddah to Doha

by Varun Godinho

May 27, 2022

Saudi Arabia’s national flag carrier, Saudia, has said that it will operate several hundred extra flights over the duration of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 later this year.

The announcement of the special flights came following an MoU signed in Doha, Qatar on Thursday between Captain Ibrahim S. Koshy, CEO of Saudia, Akbar Al Baker, Qatar Airways group chief executive to enable both carriers to partner on thes exclusive flights.

Saudia said that it will introduce over 60 exclusive flights to support the national team, and several dozen more daily flights for fans to attend the matches.

بأكثر من 60 رحلة يومياً إلى الدوحة ✈️

متحمّسين لمشاركتنا في برنامج الطيران لمشجعي اليوم الواحد في كأس العالم #قطر2022 ? https://t.co/X5MZPFSSWp

— السعودية | SAUDIA (@Saudi_Airlines) May 26, 2022

There will be 60 special daily flights during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 starting November 21, which will run from both Riyadh and Jeddah to Doha.

All the exclusive additional flights will be fully operated by widebody Saudi aircraft.

The 60 daily flights between Riyadh-Doha-Riyadh and Jeddah-Doha-Jeddah will also include dedicated on-ground transportation between the airport and stadium in Doha.

Fans on these flights will also be offered the flexibility to fly-in and fly-out the same day as the matches.

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.

Read: Qatar world cup shuttle flights set to buoy Gulf tourism

Also, the airline said that it will offer guests on these flights the option to extend their visit to Saudi by exploring the kingdom’s many heritage sites.

The journey between the capital cities of Riyadh and Doha is approximately one hour thirty minutes air travel time, and from Doha to the Red Sea port city of Jeddah, which features the world-renowned UNESCO world heritage site Al-Balad, is two hours and 40 minutes by flight.

Saudia added that the number of flights it operates between Riyadh, Jeddah and Doha is subject to being increased if the demand and capabilities, studied along with Qatar Airways, supports that decision.