Saudi Arabian Royal Flight to China?
 

Heard that the airline will be operating a VIP flight to Beijing next month as the king will be visiting there, is this the first time that a Saudi leader is going to China? which aircraft will he take?

I'm told that Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz flies in two aircraft-- a Boeing 737 and a Boeing 747-400. Most of the time, even in-Kingdom, he flies the 747. I'll let you speculate which one he most likely would take from the Saudi Kingdom to the Middle Kingdom. ;)

Ah. . . :ugh: oops. Well, that's what the guy with the camel told me.

Heres one VIP 737 operated by the Royal Fleet up until 2002 or later, I recall it flew Afghan president from Kabul on his first visit to Saudi Arabia around that time.

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/218241/M/

I think it was more of a Saudia being flown as an RF.

Look around A.net and you'll find a lot of Saudia planes in the south of France as well as Spain and Switzerland. Guess what they were doing there ;)

I know the Royal Fleet is operated by Saudia now rebranded as Saudi Arabian, therefore the thread header said "Saudi Arabian....", I just wanted to know wether its the first time an SV aircraft will be going to mainland China and what type, apparently the king has been to Beijing sometime in the 90's as crown prince so its not his or SV's first trip there, most likely he'll use a 747-300 or an SP.

How come SV royal fleet have not bought a 744 yet? any plans to.

Re: Saudi Arabian Royal Flight to China?
 

SVA already operate scheduled cargo flights to China.....


Mutt

Re: Saudi Arabian Royal Flight to China?
 

In this part of the world, that kind of information is considered classified. Then again that is now probably true all over the world.

Any men in black suits or white thobes pay you a visit, asking you why you want to know:hmm:

Re: Saudi Arabian Royal Flight to China?
 

mutt, Hong Kong is not considered mainland Chinese by most, its a world of its own, even aviation agreements are seperate form China and Cathay Pacific is still considered a foreign airline by the Chinese themselves, its flights are not operated as domestic.

So mainland China is another story.

Re: Saudi Arabian Royal Flight to China?
 

Very true, however, Shanghai is in mainland China!!!

Mutt

Re: Saudi Arabian Royal Flight to China?
 

Ok, didnt know about that, when did it start?

Re: Saudi Arabian Royal Flight to China?
 

About a year ago.... Enroute stop to Bangkok....

Mutt

Re: Saudi Arabian Royal Flight to China?
 

Please just answer this one, do SV operate any Hajj charters to/from China? do they plan to? this year they are doing Birmingham and Manchester with 744's, do they serve any other destinatioons during Hajj that they dont fly to, I have heard of Medan and Surabaya in Indonesia also getting such charters.

Re: Saudi Arabian Royal Flight to China?
 

Presently no Hajj flights to China and none in the short term plan.

B744s have operated to a number of UK and European airports, although not exclusively, the 777 and 743 are also operating these sectors.

Surabaya has approximately 5-6 flights per DAY! All operated with high density B742/3 aircraft with close to 460 seats, the B744 only has 350 seats so isnt suitable for that sector.

Mutt

Re: Saudi Arabian Royal Flight to China?
 

I've been on their high density B741's as a PAX in-Kingdom of few times.

I think sardines have more space in their tins then passengers in these planes.

Would you believe that they took this aircraft?

http://images.airliners.net/photos/p...1/2/994212.jpg

Plus a couple more :):)

Mutt

That was a joke wasnt it? actually hes using a 747-300 with P&W engines, saw it on all the news channels via cable of the countries hes visiting, its in Pakistan today.

Does VIP flight use SV cabin crew or they have their own? males or females?

A bit late I know, but in answer to a much earlier question: Prince Saud Al Faisal, Minister of Foreign Affairs, went to Beijing 8-10 years ago in HZ-HM2
B707-368, so King Abdullah's visit in HZ-HM1A is not the first Saudia passenger aircraft in China.

Correct Charlie_Fox, even Abdullah is supposed to have been there as crown prince before.

Adding to the debate:- Anyone know how Khaled bin Sultan travelled years ago (mid 80's?) when he was negotiating for Chinese missiles? Saudia or 'private'? I'm sure I read that there were a few trips both ways.


cheers all,
Bear 555
:)