A Saudi man is demanding compensation from Sharjah-based Air Arabia after its office at Alexandria airport in Egypt refused to let him and his family aboard a flight to Riyadh on the grounds he had no payment receipt.

Dakhilullah Dakhil, an engineer, said he presented a receipt to Air Arabia staff members showing he had paid for the tickets obtained from the airlines’ office in Riyadh but they refused the receipt for not bearing the company’s name.

Quoted by the Saudi Arabic language daily Sabq, he said Air Arabia employees asked him to pay around 7,000 Egyptian pounds to allow him on board but he refused, saying he had already paid for the return tickets in Riyadh.

“I went with my family to the Alexandria airport on Wednesday morning and when I wanted to check in, they (Air Arabia) said my payment receipt is not legal as it does not have the company’s name on it,” he said.

“I was surprised by this behavior and their request for a payment receipt because I showed them the tickets and they were all legal…I then contacted Cairo and Riyadh offices and they said my tickets and reservations are legal…but Air Arabia in Alexandria refused to let me and my family on the plane.”

Dakhil said he had to return to Cairo to inform the Saudi embassy, adding that he stayed at a hotel for four days. He said the Saudi embassy would provide him with a lawyer to follow up his case with Air Arabia.

“I then booked a flight on Egypt Air after Air Arabia insisted on refusing to let me on the plane…I call on Air Arabia to punish those responsible and I demand compensation for the tickets, for the delay to my work and for what I and my family have been through as a result of this irresponsible behavior.”