Football fans will be glad to know several airlines will broadcast live 2022 FIFA World Cup matches onboard their flights.
With the 2022 FIFA World Cup around the corner, many football fans might be wondering how and if they will be able to enjoy live matches when flying on a plane. Well, the answer to this question is a strong "yes!". Let's have a look at which airlines will provide their passengers with this luxury.
With the first match scheduled for November 21st, the start of the 2022 FIFA World Cup is just around the corner. Worldwide sports events like this are a source of incredible joy and enthusiasm for many. But what if a fan is traveling on a plane when their favorite team is competing?
Airlines worldwide are well aware of how relevant in-flight entertainment has become for their passengers. Today's travelers do not want to miss out on anything happening on the ground. Therefore, several carriers have signed deals with live tv providers. Sport24, the only live sports channel available on airlines around the world, is one of these.
Sport24 will broadcast every moment of the 2022 FIFA World Cup onboard hundreds of aircraft worldwide thanks to its in-flight channels. Sport24 is offered exclusively by Panasonic Avionics through its Live Television service, and the company tells Simple Flying that there are currently a total of 575 aircraft flying worldwide that offer Sport24. Panasonic further notes that,
So far in 2022, over 4.5 million airline passengers have tuned into Panasonic Avionics’ Live Television service.
Airlines whose in-flight entertainment (IFE) systems include Sport24 will offer more than 125 hours of live FIFA World Cup coverage, including all 64 matches of the tournament broadcasted live. Additionally, Sport24 will also transmit regular highlight shows scheduled throughout the game and repeat matches.
Among the airlines providing this luxurious treat to its customers, one finds Emirates, whose in-flight entertainment system is deemed the best in the industry, Etihad Airways, JetBlue, and Singapore Airlines. The live broadcasting of the matches is made possible thanks to Panasonic's live television service.
On the other hand, the official airline partner of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Qatar Airways, offers different travel packages to those flying to Qatar to attend the event. The different travel packages include a Qatar Airways flight to Doha, accommodation, and tickets to attend the matches in person.
Besides broadcasting live matches at 40,000 feet and Qatar Airways offering a range of different travel packages, how are international airlines getting ready for the next global sports event?
On the one hand, some airlines offering scheduled services to Doha have planned to increase capacity to the capital city of Qatar. Either adding frequencies can add capacity to the existing schedule or operating larger aircraft. For instance, between November 18th and January 8th, British Airways will use Qatar Airways' slots at London Heathrow to operate its flagship aircraft, the Airbus 380, on a daily service to Doha. British Airways' Airbus 380 will substitute its oneworld partner's Boeing 777-300ER, increasing available seats on each flight by a third.
On the other hand, some airlines that do not regularly offer scheduled flights to Doha will provide charter flights to the Qatari capital, as is the case for Aerolineas Argentinas. The airline's charter flights depend on how well the national team will perform. The Argentinian carrier has currently planned six flights, two for each of the team's first three matches. If Argentina were to advance in the tournament, the airline would add more flights to accommodate the demand of Argentinian football fans who want to continue to support their national team.
The FIFA World Cup is considered to be the most significant global sports event. Millions of football fans worldwide are eager to take a flight, no matter how long, to follow and support their national team at this global tournament.
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Such a large-scale global event is a golden opportunity for airlines to boost their revenues. People who would usually not spend relevant sums to fly are suddenly ready to visit airlines' websites to secure a seat, sometimes not even caring about the price. For this reason, international airlines put in place the most diverse measures to match capacity with the sudden peak in demand. Additionally, as for those airlines offering live matches onboard their aircraft, carriers invest in marketing strategies and product upgrades to get the largest market share.
How important is it for you that the airline you are flying with broadcasts live sports events such as the 2022 FIFA World Cup? Let us know in the comment section below!
Journalist – Giacomo has almost two years of experience as an aviation reporter. At the University of Surrey, he pursued a master’s in Air Transport Management. His main areas of expertise include network and fleet planning, airline partnerships, aviation finance, and airline strategy. Currently based in Italy.