Kazakhstan carrier SCAT Airlines launched operations with its first Next-Generation Boeing 737-700 on the eve of this year’s Routes Silk Road forum, the carrier’s commercial director, Nikolay Buryakov revealed to The HUB Daily at the event in the Georgian capital city, Tbilisi. The aircraft is part of an ongoing renewal process which could see its fleet of western airliners grow to 30 aircraft by the end of the decade, including the arrival of its first long-haul scheduled aircraft.

The airline, officially titled Special Cargo Air Transport, was formed in 1997 and has established itself as Kazakhstan’s second carrier. It has been slowly replacing its older Soviet-era Antonov and Yakovlev aircraft with western types, operating a mixed fleet of Bombardier CRJ200s, Classic 737 -300 and -500 variants (leased from Small Planet Airlines) and larger 757 and 767s, the latter being mainly used by its dedicated charter business, Sunday Airlines

The Boeing 737-700 was delivered to SCAT’s Shymkent International Airport base on June 27, 2014 on lease from AviaAM Leasing. Prior to its delivery the former Air Italy jet had its cabin renewed, was painted in full SCAT Airlines livery and had its engines uprated to increase the aircraft’s maximum take-off weight. Buryakov confirmed to The HUB Daily that the aircraft entered service on the Almaty – Antalya scheduled charter route on July 5, 2014.

“We are in the process of a long-term fleet renewal as we work to expand the airline. We hope to add additional aircraft in the coming years as we build on our strong roots within the Kazakhstan market and neighbouring States,” said Buryakov.

Along its scheduled development, its charter division, Sunday Airlines will help it utilise its expanded fleet of aircraft, including two Boeing 777s which are earmarked for delivery in 2017. These aircraft could be used to introduce new long-haul scheduled routes, subject to final discussions, as well as to grow charter capacity into popular leisure markets such as China, India, Malaysia, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Vietnam.