A judicial body specialising in consumer complaints in Hyderabad has ordered Saudia to pay compensation of 1,000 dollars to an Indian citizen after the airline violated rights stipulated in his travel ticket.

Passenger Karan Bhagat had purchased business-class tickets for himself and his family from Hyderabad to Rome, with a stopover in Jeddah. However, Saudia transported him in economy class on the Jeddah-to-Rome leg of the journey.

Indian platforms said that, because Saudia represents the Saudi government, the airline often operates without restraint in non-Western countries, where it rarely faces accountability. They described today’s ruling as a precedent that could ultimately lead to the airline being “disciplined”.