What now for Saudi Arabian?

[ExSimGuy]

Yes, the 74 Classics have been doing Riyadh-Jeddah (about 1 hour 45m I think) for years and still do, as well as the 777s. Very often full load and a flight every couple of hours.

It's probably not too kind on the take-off/landing cycle aspect for the aircraft, but what's the alternative with that sort of traffic - an MD90 or Airbus every hour?

Passengers' alternatives are about 10 hours (legal ) driving, with sparse (and very low-quality) "service areas", in real desert conditions, or a bus (slightly slower, but not much)

If I need my car there for any length of time and/or have a lot of equipment to take, then I'll drive - but for one or 2 days business trip, flying is the only way.