Travel question: Will airline pay out after cancelled flight caused children to miss school?

Have a question? Ask our expert Simon Calder

Passengers at the terminal of Barcelona El Prat airport (Getty)

Q Our family was booked to travel from Barcelona to Manchester on 19 May, the Sunday when loads of flights were cancelled because of the problems at Manchester airport over refuelling. We were two days late getting back which meant the children missed school. Can you confirm if compensation should be paid out in these circumstances? The airline has refused, saying it was beyond their control.

Mel P

A You were among around 15,000 travellers whose flights were cancelled due to the failure of the fuelling system at Manchester airport for 13 hours. Around 100 flights were cancelled as a result. I trust the airline put you up in a hotel and provided all your meals until it could fly you home.