Since 2014, Doha Airport is primarily used for flights by members of the Royal Family and VIPs, as well as the Qatar Air Force. Nearby Hamad Airport has become a growth hub for national carrier Qatar Airways. Authorities in this Persian Gulf country have not commented on the reopening, but low-cost companies in Kuwait (Jazeera Airways), United Arab Emirates (Fly Dubai), from Oman (Hello Air) and Turkey (Pegasus AirlinesStarting from September 15, they sell tickets to Doha airport.
Jazeera Airways announced on its website that next Thursday “all our scheduled flights (…) will be temporarily diverted to Doha International Airport“. In a letter to passengers, the company informed that this change will last until December 30, 2022 and “follows the directives of the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority“.
Earlier in the year, Qatar announced that a number of Gulf airlines would operate more than 100 daily shuttles to Doha airport during the World Cup, which begins on November 20 and ends on December 18.
150,000 visitors are expected on peak days
Passengers on these flights will undergo immigration checks on departure to reduce waiting on arrival in Qatar and will depart as soon as their match is over. More than three million passengers passed through Hamad Airport in June alone. According to the Civil Aviation Administration, the number of 8.42 million passengers in the second quarter is 18% higher than in the first three months of the year. As a result of the expansion project, the capacity of this airport will increase to 58 million passengers per year. With 150,000 visitors expected on the busiest days of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, some aviation experts fear Hamad Airport will struggle to cope with the massive influx of fans.
How to get around Doha during the World Cup?
All tourists, whether they intend to attend the meeting or not, must apply for a Hayya Card if they are visiting Qatar between 1 November 2022 and 23 January 2023. This digital card, which can be downloaded from a dedicated mobile app, acts as a permit to enter the grounds, includes entrance tickets to the stadiums and allows free use of public transport in Doha on match days. Pre-booked accommodation is required to validate the Hayya Card application.
The eight World Cup stadiums as well as most fan zones, are connected by metro, tram or shuttle buses. A state-of-the-art and three-line metro serves Hamad International Airport, the historic center (Souq Waqif, Msheireb…) and Doha’s main museums (Museum of Islamic Art, Qatar National Museum…). Access to public transport is free with the Hayya Card on match days. Otherwise, the ticket is very cheap, counting only 0.50 euros per trip.
More information on the Qatar Tourism Office website (visitqatar.qa:translated into French) and the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 website (qatar2022.qa:English).
Source: Le Figaro
