(15 January 2026 | Source: Instagram page of Tatyana Foster)
The story surrounding the so-called 'mates' rates tickets' at FlyArystan has received its first public comment from Tatyana Foster, the wife of a top manager at Air Astana. In her statement, she emphasised that she had consciously refrained from making public assessments until a court ruling was delivered, and she referenced Air Astana's position without addressing the key issues that sparked public outcry.
HOW THE SCANDAL AROSE
The catalyst for public debate was publications by former FlyArystan employee Renat Abulkhanov, who released screenshots of correspondence. In these, as the ex-manager claimed, Tatyana Foster allegedly asked for manual access to the cheapest fares — for herself and her mother.
According to Abulkhanov, similar requests came from other individuals who had privileged access. He stated that he acted on the airline management's instructions, issuing tickets at reduced rates, rebooking them without penalties, and using overbooking mechanisms.
WHAT WAS SAID IN COURT
During the court proceedings, Abulkhanov claimed that one witness confirmed the issuance of tickets at concessional rates for the wife of the president of Air Astana, as well as members of her family.
The defence also published screenshots of correspondence containing requests for help purchasing flight tickets for officials, law enforcement representatives, and private individuals. The authenticity of this correspondence has not been officially confirmed, and its procedural status in open sources remains unclear.
THE COURT VERDICT
In the criminal case concerning embezzlement and money laundering, three former managers of FlyArystan were convicted: Renat Abulkhanov and Yerkin Isanov each received 8.5 years in prison, and Daur Yerkenuly received 9 years. The court also ordered the confiscation of their property.
THE FIRST PUBLIC REACTION
Commenting on the situation, Tatyana Foster stated that she had consciously refrained from public debate, awaiting a legal assessment and the court's decision. She also indicated that, in her words, false information had been spread about her family.
In her statement, Foster quoted an excerpt from an official comment by Air Astana, which said that the verdict confirmed the findings of the airline's internal audit, initiated before the matter was referred to law enforcement.
The company stated that the audit identified financial irregularities, which were later confirmed by an independent auditor and became the subject of court proceedings.
The carrier's comment also noted that, according to the company, the public interpretations previously appearing in the media by Renat Abulkhanov were not corroborated during the court proceedings.
AN ANSWER WITHOUT EXPLANATIONS
However, in her public statement, Tatyana Foster did not comment on a number of key questions actively discussed in public. In particular, she did not give direct answers regarding:
- the practice of 'mates' rates tickets';
- the manual opening of cheap fares for specific individuals;
- instances of overbooking that led to passengers being denied boarding;
- the possible use of her status as the wife of the airline's head.