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SAUDIA to Operate 540 Additional Flights for World Cup Qatar 2022 Matches

The 60 special daily flights during the World Cup, 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. (SPA)
The 60 special daily flights during the World Cup, 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. (SPA)
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SAUDIA to Operate 540 Additional Flights for World Cup Qatar 2022 Matches

The 60 special daily flights during the World Cup, 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. (SPA)
The 60 special daily flights during the World Cup, 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. (SPA)

In the lead-up to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 taking place for the first time in the Middle East later this year, Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA), the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, will be introducing more than 60 exclusive flights to support the national team and 40 daily flights for fans to conveniently attend the matches.

The 60 special daily flights during the World Cup, 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 seeking 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 one hour 30 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.

During an MoU signing ceremony in Doha, Qatar on Thursday, 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 exclusive flights.

Starting from November 21, 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 wide body 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.

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South Korea Expresses Regret after Its Athletes Introduced as North Korea at Opening Ceremony

Athletes of South Korea travel by boat along the Seine river during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, in Paris, France, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP)
Athletes of South Korea travel by boat along the Seine river during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, in Paris, France, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP)
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South Korea Expresses Regret after Its Athletes Introduced as North Korea at Opening Ceremony

Athletes of South Korea travel by boat along the Seine river during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, in Paris, France, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP)
Athletes of South Korea travel by boat along the Seine river during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, in Paris, France, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP)

South Korea expressed regret that its delegation of athletes at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony on Friday was introduced as from rival North Korea and has demanded assurances from organizers the mistake will not happen again.

As the boat carrying South Korean athletes passed on the Seine, the announcer introduced them as the "Democratic People's Republic of Korea" - the official name of North Korea - in French and English.

The announcer used the same introduction when the North Korean delegation passed.

South Korea's vice minister for sports and culture, Jang Mi-ran, who was in Paris, had requested a meeting with International Olympics Committee President Thomas Bach, the ministry said in a statement.

"We express regret that the country was introduced as North Korea at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games when the athletes of the Republic of Korea were entering," it said.

South Korea's National Olympic Committee immediately referred the incident to the Games' organizers and requested that the error will not be repeated.

South Korea's delegation includes 143 athletes competing in 21 events. North Korea, which is returning to the Games for the first time since Rio 2016, has sent 16 athletes.