Demand for private flights to Qatar...

Flydubai is also expected to offer up to 60 daily flights to Doha, while Kuwait Airways will operate up to 20

Demand for private flights to Qatar has seen a sharp increase ahead of the highly anticipated FIFA World Cup tournament in November 2022.

According to DC Aviation Al-Futtaim (DCAF), a joint venture between Dubai-based conglomerate Al-Futtaim and Germany's DC Aviation GmbH, there has been a surge in requests from customers looking to fly privately to Doha in Qatar towards the end of the year, coinciding with the FIFA World Cup 2022 dates.

Scheduled to take place in Qatar from 21 November to 18 December this year, the tournament is expected to add US$17 billion to Qatar's economy.

DC Aviation Al-Futtaim managing director Holger Ostheimer said: "We have seen a sharp increase in enquiries for the later stages of the tournament from the first week of December until the finals, which take place on 18 December."

The company said it will make aircraft available ranging from the very light and affordable four-seater Cessna Citation Mustang to the eight-seater Pilatus PC-12 and the midsize jet nine-seater Bombardier Challenger 604.

DC Aviation Al-Futtaim said it can also offer a 10-seater Falcon 2000 and a large-size cabin aircraft.

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Qatar's national carrier announced in May this year that it will partner with other gulf airlines on match day shuttle services during the World Cup.

Participating airlines include Flydubai, Kuwait Airways, Oman Air and Saudia. Flydubai is expected to offer up to 60 daily flights, bringing up to 2,700 fans per day to Doha, while Kuwait Airways will operate up to 20 flights to transport up to 1,700 World Cup fans on a daily basis.

For more information, visit www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/qatar2022