SAUDIA - SAUDI ARABIAN AIRLINES
(Saudi-Arabia)

You are asking what role played the DC-10 in Saudias history? It is only a small but important one: Saudi-Arabia is not only one of the largest Islamic countries, but also the place where Mohammed, the prophet, lived. The holy Kaaba of Mecca, which is visited by Muslim people from every part of the world, attracts large number of pilgrims. In the Hadj season, where pilgrims use to visit Mecca, Saudia leases a lot of additional aircraft to compense the high number of passenger and although 747s are preferred, some wet leased DC-10s (total: four) were used by Saudia. One, N1301F leased from ONA, was lost after overrunning the runway in Istanbul in 1975, being one of the first DC-10s to be lost. Although Saudia never ordered a DC-10 and is one of the largest TriStar-operators of all times, Saudia will probably add some DC-10s to its TriStar fleet in next years Hadj season too - and be sure that this won't be the last season with the "ten". Beside the trijets, Saudia operates 777, 747, 737-200, A300 and MD-90.

Photos:
Right: Saudia DC-10-15 operated by SkyJet - BY YDE VIENNE


Following aircraft were operated by or for Saudia:

RegistrationAircraftFleetnr./NameOperated from - toWhere is it now?
N1301F46825/ 8111.1975 - 02.01.1976WRITTEN OFF
PP-OOO48258/ 34602.1999 - 05.1999-stored-
V2-SKY48275/ 35802.1999 - 05.1999 and
26.01.2001 - 10.04.2001
-stored-
V2-LER48294/ 3721999 - 1999-stored-


Following DC-10 aircraft have been written off during service with Air New Zealand:
N1031F, 46825/ 81


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