Doha: Qatar Airway is going to cut capacity temporarily to accommodate additional airlines at Doha’s Hamad International Airport during the World Cup.

The airline will cut service to 18 destinations over the course of the World Cup. The State of Qatar expects to receive around 1.2 million visitors for the sporting event, which will take place from November 20 to December 18 of 2022.

On this note, Chief Executive of Qatar Airways, Akbar Al Baker, said, "We have reduced and withdrawn from 18 destinations in order to make space at Hamad international airport to bring fans."

"Our priority is not Qatar Airways' network but giving access to all countries participating and bringing in large numbers of passengers."

The cuts affect flights to Asia most severely. Previously reports mentioned the drop of flights to locations such as Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, and India for the event.

The newly-available landing slots in Doha will accommodate a more extensive selection of international scheduled commercial services and charter flights. In addition to the previously announced British Airways flights, Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker suggested that German airline Lufthansa is considering restarting operations along with Skyteam alliance carriers Air France and KLM.

Football fans will stay in the neighboring Gulf nations and fly over daily for the matches. For the event, the airline partnered with neighboring carriers, including Kuwait Airways, Saudia, and Oman Air, for same-day return day flights. The shuttle flights will enable spectators to attend for a day and save on hotel costs.

Qatar Airways COO Badr Mohammad Al Meer, said, “For shuttle flights there will be 500 a day, for charter flights the list has not yet been finalised."