Kazakhstan’s SCAT Airlines launches first route outside home country

Image: Prague Airport

Kazakhstan-based private carrier, SCAT Airlines, has launched its first route operating outside its home country. Starting December 21, it began flying tourists from the Czech Republic to the Chinese resort island of Hainan. The Prague–Sanya service will operate once weekly on Sundays, utilizing a Boeing 737 MAX-9 configured with 213 all-economy seats.

While the route transits Kazakhstan’s airspace, the aircraft makes a technical refueling stop in Bishkek, the capital of neighboring Kyrgyzstan. This arrangement was a specific requirement mandated by the Chinese side, SCAT representatives told CentralAsia+Aero.

SCAT has a history of transporting third-country tourists to international holiday destinations, but previous operations always utilized technical stops within Kazakhstan. The airline has transported Russian travelers to Hainan and Vietnam via Almaty and Astana and also operated charter services from Yekaterinburg and Novosibirsk to Cambodia with technical stops in Taraz, Kazakhstan.