China Southern Airlines begin Saudi service with 737
 

This baby put to good use catering to a niche market of pilgrims and business http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1195872/M/

Sharjah also resumed after a few years hiatus.

From Press release:

China Southern Launches New Service to Saudi Arabia

GUANGZHOU, China – June 12, 2007 - China Southern Airlines, (NYSE: ZNH, HKSE: 1055, SHA 600029) - www.cs-air.com/en - with the largest and most technically advanced aircraft fleet in The People's Republic of China is pleased to announce new service to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The recently launched service originates in Urumqi in China’s far Northwest and operates direct to Sharjah before continuing onwards to Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport.

This new China Southern Airlines’ Urumqi-Sharjah-Jeddah service is the airline’s first operation to this Arabian port city.

Situated on the Red Sea, Jeddah is an important trade port and financial center in Saudi Arabia. The opening of the new route is part of China Southern’s strategy in further expanding its international flight network.

Flight information (All Times Local)

Urumqi-Sharjah-Jeddah CZ329 1,4,6 10.05-11.50 13.20 -15.15 Boeing 737
Jeddah-Sharjah-Urumqi CZ330 1,4,6 16.45-20.25 21.55-07.20 Boeing 737.

SHJ is just a tech stop, no right for SHJ Saudi, interesting operation though.

No rights URC-SHJ as well?

why Sharjah & then Jeddah, specially if no rights for SHJ-JED!
surely they could fly direct to JED!

Then there must be rights on the URC-SHJ leg otherwise they would have flown to JED nonstop.