Spafax & Qatar Airways – Bringing FIFA to the Skies
How do you bring the world’s biggest sporting event to passengers at 30,000 feet? Qatar Airways and Spafax teamed up with FIFA to do just that.
The Challenge
Exclusive FIFA Content for a Global Audience
Ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2022, Qatar Airways wanted to elevate its inflight entertainment with a high-profile exclusive: FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s first-ever airline interview. The goal? To immerse passengers in the World Cup experience before they even landed in Qatar.
Spafax led the interview’s development, production, and delivery, ensuring it fitted seamlessly into Qatar Airways’ premium inflight entertainment.
The Solution
A Landmark FIFA-Airline Collaboration
Spafax partnered with FIFA to produce Introducing Gianni Infantino – a 14-minute exclusive interview offering rare insights into the FIFA President’s vision for the tournament. Available across Qatar Airways’ entire fleet via Oryx One, it positioned the airline as a key media platform during the World Cup.
Key Highlights
- Exclusive Interview: FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s first-ever airline interview.
- Strategic Timing: Released in December 2022, just as passengers were flying to Qatar for the World Cup.
- Integrated FIFA Content Strategy
- Live-streamed FIFA World Cup matches via Qatar Airways’ inflight connectivity.
- A year-long football-focused content series leading up to the tournament.
- Award-winning FIFA content projects, including The Road to Qatar.
Industry Recognition
- 2024 Lovie Awards – Bronze Winner & People’s Choice (Film & Video: Sports)
- 2023 APEX Awards Submission – Best IFE Innovation
The Execution
Delivering FIFA Content at Scale
Spafax played a key role in the production process by developing the interview format and questions, laying the foundation for the content. During the tournament, FIFA’s production team captured the footage on location in Doha, bringing the project to life. Following the filming, Spafax managed the editing and post-production work, ensuring the final product was seamlessly integrated into Qatar Airways’ inflight entertainment system.
The Results
Connecting Football Fans at 30,000 Feet
Immersive Experience
Gave passengers a reason to be excited on their journey to the FIFA World Cup before they even landed.
Strengthened Qatar Airways’ brand:
Cemented its role as FIFA’s official airline partner.
Global Impact:
Football, like air travel, connects people. This collaboration brought fans together worldwide.
Setting a New Standard for Airline Content
By bridging aviation and global sports, Spafax helped Qatar Airways create a high-impact inflight entertainment experience. Introducing Gianni Infantino wasn’t just an interview; it was a statement on the power of premium airline content.
By bringing exclusive FIFA content onboard, Spafax helped Qatar Airways offer passengers more than just standard inflight entertainment in the run up to the world’s most watched sporting event.
