As the excitement around the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar builds up, the country’s civil aviation regulator announced that it expects Hamad International Airport, the base of Qatar Airways, to handle between 34 million and 36 million passengers this year. It amounts to approximately double the number served by the airport last year.

The projection factors in the recovery in travel from the pandemic will continue as nations further ease restrictions. 

An estimated 3.5 million to 4.1 million passengers will arrive, depart and transit Qatar in November, while 3.6 million to 4.7 million are expected in December, the regulator also said in a statement.

During the World Cup, which runs from mid-November to mid-December, several Middle East carriers will operate dozens of flights to and from Doha on match days. At the same time, Qatar will also use its old Doha International Airport for flights in addition to the newer Hamad International Airport.

Hamad International, which handles international flights, served 17.7 million passengers in 2021 and 38.8 million in 2019, the year before the pandemic began.