Up To 14 Hours: SCAT Airlines Adds 1-Stop Boeing 737 MAX Service Between Europe & China
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Kazakhstan’s SCAT Airlines will launch a weekly Prague (PRG)–Sanya (SYX) service with a technical stop in Bishkek (FRU) beginning December 21. The flight operates as a single through-service (same aircraft) aimed at linking Central Europe with China’s Hainan Island during the winter-sun season.
Schedule & routing
The new operation runs on Sundays using flight numbers DV481/DV482. DV481 is scheduled to depart Sanya (SYX) 08:05 and arrive Prague (PRG) 15:20, following a short technical call at Bishkek (FRU). The return, DV482, leaves Prague (PRG) 16:50 and arrives Sanya (SYX) 12:30+1, again via FRU. Total gate-to-gate time is up to ~14 hours depending on winds and ground time at the technical stop.
Airports & codes
SYX — Sanya Phoenix International, Hainan, China
FRU — Manas International, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (technical stop/no aircraft change)
PRG — Václav Havel Airport Prague, Czech Republic
Aircraft & cabin
SCAT will deploy a Boeing 737 MAX 9 in an all-economy 213-seat configuration. The single-class layout is optimized for leisure demand on long mid-haul sectors. Standard services (meals, buy-on-board options, and amenities) may vary by season and market.
Why this matters
This is a rare same-plane, one-stop option between Europe and southern China that avoids long connections at mega-hubs, and it taps mounting demand for Hainan resort travel from Central and Eastern Europe. For Prague, it broadens Asia access and complements SCAT’s existing Astana (NQZ)–Prague link.
SCAT Airlines snapshot
Founded in 1997, SCAT is Kazakhstan’s second-largest carrier and the first Central Asian airline to operate the 737 MAX. Its network spans Kazakhstan, Central Asia, Russia, Turkey, and select European points. The fleet centers on the Boeing 737 family (Classic/NG/MAX) with additional 757-200 and 767-300ER capacity to support peak leisure flows.
Practical notes
Tickets are sold as a through service SYX–FRU–PRG / PRG–FRU–SYX with no aircraft change. The FRU call is a technical stop; any deplaning or transit procedures there are operationally determined—travelers should review their itinerary and pre-departure notifications for specifics. Indicative one-way fares were initially advertised from ~$434, subject to availability and currency fluctuations.
