Kazakhstan’s SCAT Airlines, in partnership with Boeing, has begun construction of a new maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) center in Shymkent. The facility is expected to become the largest aircraft maintenance complex in Kazakhstan and across Central Asia.
The capsule-laying ceremony, held on February 27, was attended by Shymkent Mayor Gabit Syzdykbekov, Deputy Transport Minister Talgat Lastayev, and Boeing Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Eurasia, India, and South Asia Paul Righi.
According to the Ministry of Transport, the center will specialize in servicing Boeing aircraft, including the Boeing 737 (Classic, NG, and MAX), Boeing 757 and 767 models, as well as the Boeing 777 widebody aircraft.
The facility will occupy 10 hectares, with engineering and technical infrastructure covering 45,000 square meters. The aircraft parking area alone will span more than six hectares.
The project is intended to establish a modern, internationally certified repair and maintenance base capable of servicing not only domestic carriers but also foreign airlines, thereby expanding Kazakhstan’s technical expertise and aviation services export potential.
Kazakhstan’s civil aviation sector continues to demonstrate steady growth. According to the Ministry of Transport, in 2025 the country’s airports handled 31.8 million passengers, compared to 29.7 million in 2024. Cargo traffic reached 173,300 tons, up from 170,900 tons the previous year.
Deputy Minister Talgat Lastayev stated that the growth in traffic has been accompanied by systematic efforts to strengthen safety oversight. Kazakhstan’s compliance with international aviation safety standards reached 95.7%, significantly exceeding global and regional averages and placing the country among the world’s top 20 performers in this category.
Lastayev also noted that KazMunayGas-Aero LLP, a jet fuel supply subsidiary of the national oil and gas company KazMunayGas, has been granted direct access to airport infrastructure and has begun providing direct “into-plane” refueling services. This has reduced the average cost of jet fuel at Kazakh airports.
According to the ministry, direct refueling without intermediaries has lowered jet fuel prices to below $1,000 per ton, compared to $1,200-$1,300 per ton in other countries.
The new refueling mechanism was introduced on the instructions of the President of Kazakhstan to support the development of international air hubs by ensuring stable supplies of competitively priced aviation fuel. Officials say it is expected to improve the reliability of fuel supply for airlines and reinforce the country’s role as a key transit hub.
