Saudia, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, will fly a total of 540 extra flights to Qatar for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 matches. The airline will introduce more than 60 exclusive daily flights to support the national team and 40 daily flights for fans to conveniently attend the matches, said a statement.
The 60 special daily flights during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 starting November 21, will run from both Riyadh and Jeddah to Doha, and are being offered for fans who wish to have the flexibility to fly-in and fly-out same day for matches.
In addition, these flights will provide a convenient option for guests wishing to tag on a trip to explore world-class heritage experiences in Saudi Arabia. Fans can visit Saudi Arabia to tour new and unique touristic sites, exploring an untapped destination during the football events taking place in the region.
The journey between the capital cities of Riyadh and Doha is approximately 1 hour 30 minutes, and from Doha to the Red Sea port city of Jeddah, which features the world-renowned UNESCO world heritage site Al-Balad, is 2 hours and 40 minutes.
During an MoU signing ceremony in Doha, Qatar on May 26, the Chief Executive Officer of Saudia, Captain Ibrahim S Koshy and Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker, signed the exclusive agreement to enable both carriers to partner on the flights.
Starting from November 21, 2022, the 60 daily flights between Riyadh-Doha-Riyadh and Jeddah-Doha-Jeddah will also include an added benefit of a dedicated on-ground transportation between the airport and stadium.
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 the passengers.
All the exclusive additional flights will be fully operated by widebody Saudia aircraft. The number of Saudia flights between Riyadh, Jeddah and Doha is subject to increase after studying the demand and capabilities with Qatar airways in the upcoming days, said the statement.
