Can passengers claim compensation for Gatwick runway chaos?

Simon Calder answers your questions on new ways to explore Philadelphia, rail travel in central Europe, and compensation for flights disruption

The runway at Gatwick was closed following a problem with a departing BA plane (Alamy/PA)

Q You covered the British Airways plane at Gatwick airport that stopped in the middle of the runway. It seems to have caused all kinds of mayhem. Does that mean passengers who were affected by it can claim compensation from BA?

Phil P

A At lunchtime yesterday, the world’s busiest single-runway airport was closed to arrivals and departures for 50 minutes. The cause: a British Airways flight to Vancouver whose pilots decided to abandon its departure and came to a halt in the middle of the runway.