Soccer-Tour operators eye back-up routes as millions prepare to fly to Qatar World Cup

ORLANDO, Fl./DOHA : Air operators flying soccer fans to the Qatar World Cup should have back-up routes in case of disruptions from delays or regional tensions, with around three million tickets sold for next month's global event, travel and risk consultants said.

Qatar Airways is working to boost its workforce by 10,000 to more than 55,000, partly to handle the expected influx, and has cut flights to make way for World Cup fans.

Ticket sales for the showpiece tournament, which runs from Nov. 20 to Dec. 18, are approaching the three million mark and Qatar's civil aviation regulator estimates 3.5 million to 4.1 million passengers will arrive, depart and transit Qatar in November.

Higher demand could strain resources like ground transport and hotels, while key airspace used to access Qatar has been disrupted by conflicts in recent years, driving the need for alternate routes, they said this week at the world's largest business jet show in Orlando.

A Qatari government official noted millions of people come through Qatar each year on various carriers without incident.

"Air traffic management is expected to proceed as normal during the World Cup, which in recent years has avoided Yemeni airspace and other areas where safety cannot be guaranteed," said the official, who did not wish to be named.

Matt Borie, chief intelligence officer of Osprey Flight Solutions, said operators should still consider Jordan or Oman as back up in case the airspace over Iran, Iraq or Saudi Arabia is temporarily inaccessible.

Osprey, which does aviation risk assessments for regulators and operators, has released notices on all three countries in recent years over varying airspace disruptions due to conflict.

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