Air Charter Service Gears Up for Its Largest World Cup Operation in 2026 | Aviation International News

Charter & Fractional

ACS Planning for Complex, Widespread 2026 World Cup

Forty-eight teams competing at 16 venues in four time zones creates transport challenges

Alex Sadat-Shafai — Alex Sadat-Shafai © ACS

By Amy Wilder • Writer

December 10, 2025

Air Charter Service is preparing for what it calls its most complex World Cup to date as the 2026 tournament expands to 48 teams competing across 16 stadiums in four time zones. ACS said the vast geography of the event is already prompting demand for charters, with distances between some venues exceeding 2,000 miles and limited direct scheduled service to match expected traffic.

ACS group commercial director Alex Sadat-Shafai said charters will be a necessity, citing the lack of sufficient direct flights and the operational complexity created by the tournament’s scale. He contrasted the layout with Qatar 2022, where stadiums were just 34 miles apart, and recalled arranging more than 350 flights for the similarly dispersed 2018 Russia event.

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