Kazakhstan-based SCAT Airlines has placed a firm order for five Boeing 737-9 aircraft, which were previously listed as unidentified in Boeing’s backlog. The carrier also converted five earlier 737-8 orders to the larger 737-9 variant, shifting a total of ten aircraft to the higher-capacity configuration.
The 737-9, the largest variant of the 737 MAX family currently in service, accommodates up to 220 passengers and offers a range of approximately 6,110 kilometers (3,300 nautical miles). This upgrade supports SCAT’s expansion of international services, including longer single-aisle routes from Central Asia to Europe and Asia, as well as potential seventh-freedom operations between foreign countries.
SCAT, based in Shymkent, currently operates nine 737-8s and five 737-9s as part of its fleet of nearly 40 Boeing aircraft. The carrier was the first in Central Asia to introduce the 737 MAX. This latest commitment follows an order for seven 737-8s announced at the Dubai Airshow in 2023.
This fleet update allows SCAT Airlines to better meet growing passenger demand while maintaining the flexibility to serve a diverse and expanding route network, according to Vladimir Denissov, president of 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, Denissov added.
Boeing announced the order on April 29, 2026.