SCAT Airlines orders 5 more Boeing 737-9s (737 MAX 9s)

Boeing has secured a new order for an additional five 737-9 (737 MAX 9) from Kazakhstan-based SCAT Airlines. 

The Shymkent, Kazakhstan-based SCAT Airlines was previously an undisclosed customer for the five 737-9 aircraft. In addition, the airline converted five 737-8 (737 MAX 8) from a previous order to the larger 737-9.

According to Boeing, SCAT Airlines will use the larger 737-9 fleet to operate longer flights from Kazakhstan and seventh-freedom routes from Central Asia across Europe and Asia. Among these types of routes the airline recently launched includes a 14-hour service between Prague, Czech Republic and Sanya, China which makes a technical stop in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

A “7^th Freedom” flight refers to any service operating between two foreign countries without touching the operating airline’s home country. 

"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. "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."

According to planespotters.net, SCAT Airlines operates a fleet of around 35, which includes around 14 MAX jets - 9 737-8s and 5 737-9s. SCAT Airlines was the first operator of the MAX in Central Asia.