Doha, Qatar— Qatar Civil Aviation Authority has promised a “unique travel experience” for football fans of the World Cup in the country with preparations for the global event having already been completed.
Mohammed Faleh Al Hajri, in charge of managing Civil Aviation Authority, said preparations for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 began from the moment it was announced that the State of Qatar will be hosting this important event.
Al Hajri said that the past years witnessed the implementation of important and comprehensive development plans related to the Qatari airspace and in terms of regulating air navigation and to ensure the flow of air traffic at Qatari airports and in Qatari airspace.
He added that the Authority’s Air Navigation Department has completed its preparations for the World Cup as well.
The upgraded airspace project was also completed, which included many improvements that will lead to greater efficiency in air traffic management.
He explained that through the air traffic development project, the capacity was increased to about 100 air traffic per hour, adding that the upcoming and outgoing air routes to the State of Qatar became 17 separate paths, in order to achieve further movement flow and ensure further safety.
The modernization of all systems and technologies used in air navigation has also been completed. The landing and take-off procedures have been separated into two runways (Hamad International Airport HIA and Doha International Airport DIA) to increase the capacity for take-off and landing operations.
Al Hajri noted that the efficiency of take-off and landing operations increased, adding that the possibility of accommodating three landings and take-offs (simultaneously) has been reached, and an experiment was successfully conducted in the air traffic control simulator to ensure the effectiveness and safety of this system for operation.
An air traffic flow management device, the first of its kind in the Middle East, was installed. Air traffic controllers and all employees dealing with it were trained to use it efficiently, which helps controllers in arranging the arrival and departure of planes to and from Doha.
Additionally, neighboring countries have been provided with a website about the hours of departure from their countries, called SLOT Departure Time, which also contributes to the regularity of air traffic at peak times in preparation for this important event to ensure the provision of highly efficient and distinguished services that fit with the requirements of this major event, which will be an important milestone in the history of the entire region.