Gulf airlines to lay on World Cup shuttle flights, says Qatar Airways

FILE PHOTO: A logo of Qatar Airways is seen at Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar June 12, 2017. REUTERS/Naseem Zeitoon

DOHA (Reuters) -Qatar Airways said on Thursday fellow Gulf Arab airlines would operate more than 160 daily shuttle flights to Qatar during this year's soccer World Cup, allowing fans to fly in from nearby cities before a game and return at the end of the day.

Qatar Airways CEO Akbar al-Baker told a news conference that United Arab Emirates (UAE) airline flydubai, Oman Air, Kuwait Airways and Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) would operate shuttle flights and that the UAE's Etihad and Air Arabia may also join the scheme.