SCAT Airlines Announces Order for Five Boeing 737 MAX Jets

‍SHYMKENT — SCAT Airlines (DV), which operates services to all major cities of Kazakhstan and neighboring countries, will expand its fleet and boost capacity with the fuel-efficient Boeing 737 MAX jets.

The Kazakh carrier will add capacity and range with these 737-9 aircraft. This will indeed enable DT to serve growing air travel demand and expand its international routes.

"This fleet update allows SCAT Airlines to better meet growing passenger demand while maintaining the flexibility to serve a diverse and expanding route network," said Vladimir Denissov, president of JSC SCAT Airlines.

"SCAT's decision to grow its 737-9 fleet highlights the versatility and economic advantages of the 737 MAX family," said Paul Righi, Boeing vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing for Eurasia, India, and South Asia.

As the first Central Asian operator of the 737 MAX, DT will modernize its fleet with these fuel-efficient aircraft.

Fleet modernization

The company also converted a previous order for five 737-8 jets to the larger 737-9. The airline's previously unidentified order for five more 737-9 jets will support operational efficiency and expand longer-range single-aisle services.

"Converting five of the previously ordered 737-8s to 737-9s, together with the new firm order for five 737-9s, enhances our seating capacity per flight and will improve schedule reliability as we expand our international network," Denissov said.

Route expansion

SCAT will leverage its larger 737-9 fleet to operate long-haul flights from Kazakhstan and pioneer seventh-freedom routes from Central Asia across Europe and Asia.

The airline recently launched service between Prague (PRG) and Sanya (SYX), connecting the Czech Republic and China (with a technical stop in Bishkek (BSZ), Kyrgyzstan).

It operates a domestic and international network across Central Asia and the Commonwealth of Independent States. The company has around 40 Boeing aircraft in service.

The airline was the first in Central Asia to fly the 737 MAX and currently operates nine 737-8 and five 737-9 aircraft.

Enhanced efficiency

The 737 MAX family delivers exceptional efficiency and performance, reducing fuel use by 20% compared to the aircraft it replaces.

The 737-9 seats up to 220 passengers and has a range of up to 6 110 kilometers, giving airlines the capacity and extended range to open new routes and serve high-demand markets.

"The 737-9 offers the right combination of capacity, range, and efficiency to help airlines expand their networks while lowering operating costs. We're proud to support SCAT as it connects Central Asia with more destinations across Europe and beyond," Righi said.