Kazakhstan-based SCAT Airlines has placed a firm order for five Boeing 737-9 aircraft and converted five previously ordered 737-8 jets to the larger 737-9 variant. The previously unidentified order, announced on April 29, 2026, from Shymkent, Kazakhstan, expands the airline’s planned 737 MAX 9 fleet by ten aircraft to support longer-range international routes, including more services to Europe.
The 737-9, the largest variant of the 737 MAX currently in service, provides additional seating capacity and extended range compared to the 737-8. SCAT currently operates nine 737-8 and five 737-9 aircraft as part of its fleet of nearly 40 Boeing jets. This commitment follows an order for seven 737-8 aircraft announced at the Dubai Airshow in 2023.
Vladimir Denissov, president of JSC SCAT Airlines, stated that the fleet update will help meet growing passenger demand, enhance seating capacity per flight, improve schedule reliability, and support expansion of the international network, including long-haul single-aisle routes and seventh-freedom operations.