Oldest In The Fleet | Mid-2000s

(TOP)
Airline - Dhahrani
Aircraft - Boeing 737-300 | A9-VFD
Delivered to Royal Dhahrani Airways, 1992
Sold to Qinghai Airlines, 2005
Livery - Standard 2003
Country - Kingdom of Dhahran

(BOTTOM)
Airline - Dhahrani
Aircraft - Airbus A310-300 | A9-VPM
Delivered to Royal Dhahrani Airways, 1987
Stored at King Khaleel International Airport, 2009
Stored at Al Amin International Airport, 2009

Scrapped at Al Amin International Airport, 2014
Livery - Standard 2003
Country - Kingdom of Dhahran

The two oldest aircraft types in the fleet when the 2003 livery was introduced - the 737-300 and the A310. Shown here are A9-VPM, an A310-300, and A9-VFD, one of the 737-300s still in the fleet at the time. While these were both repainted in the new livery in 2003-2004, neither type was reconfigured with a new interior of any kind, and both the A310 and the 737-300 left the fleet by 2009. A9-VPM was actually the last A310-300 to fly for Dhahrani, operating its last flight - from Tunis to Ras Al Qua - in March 2009.


Disclaimer: This project is designed to look at the progression of aviation in a more-or-less generic fictional Middle Eastern state. The fictional Kingdom of Dhahran is located near the real Saudi Arabian city called Dhahran, but has no affiliation with it, and the name is a coincidence. Any other similarities to real people, locations, or situations may be intentional. I have zero knowledge of Arabic, so while I have spent considerable time trying to get it right, mistakes are possible, and any advice is greatly appreciated.