Royal Air Maroc airline announced on Wednesday the cancellation of seven direct flights between Casablanca and Doha a few hours before the match that the Moroccan team will play against France in the semifinals of the World Cup, for fear of a “massive landing” of fans of the North African team without tickets.
Against this background, the airline confirmed this canceled seven of 30 flights expected, due to “the latest restrictions imposed by the Qatari authorities”.
According to the airline, which did not provide too many details, customers “apologised” for these cancellations and promised to refund money for the tickets, according to news agency Dpa.
The Qatari authorities have expressed their concern over the possible arrival in Morocco of thousands of fans without tickets to attend the semi-final of the World Cup, which for the first time will have African representation, this afternoon against France, reigning world champions .
Morocco’s national airline also canceled scheduled flights between Casablanca and Doha on Wednesday with fans eager to watch the World Cup semi-final between Morocco and France, while fans who had already landed in Qatar were unable to obtain tickets.
“Following the latest restrictions imposed by the Qatari authorities, Royal Air Maroc regrets informing customers of the cancellation of their flights operated by Qatar Airways,” RAM said in a statement, without detailing the reasons for the cancellation.
The seven canceled flights affect 2,100 passengers. “The other 23 flights operated by RAM are maintained,” a source close to AFP told AFP.
In Doha, Moroccan fans who arrived aboard the first flights of this airlift and with whom the AFP met on Tuesday afternoon explained that the Moroccan Football Federation had promised them tickets they didn’t have yet.
This Wednesday morning, a message was posted on the Twitter account of the Hamad International Airport, where the flights from Casablanca originated, asking fans “not to go to the two airports (in Doha) until they have obtained the tickets for the next games .” “We remind fans that Hamad International Airport and Doha Airport are not official sites for obtaining tickets for World Cup matches,” he stressed.
Videos posted on social media show groups of Moroccan fans blocked by Qatari security forces at Hamad airport.
After the historic ranking of the Atlas Lions in the semifinals, the Moroccan airline has decided to operate 30 special flights on Tuesday and Wednesday between Casablanca and Doha.
An unprecedented airlift that should “allow the many Moroccans eager to support the national team in its epic and experience the emotion of the World Cup semi-final,” RAM explained on Monday.
Source: Clarin
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