Major disruption continues to affect a UK airport after flights were delayed due to a runway fault. You may want to read up on your compensation rights after the major incident as in some cases you can get hundreds of pounds back.

Many flights were left stranded at Bristol Airport after a problem with the runway at the international airport on the night of Friday, August 7. A message from Bristol Airport confirmed the runway re-opened at 8am on Saturday, August 8.

Reports suggest many flights were still delayed by several hours after the incident. A message from Bristol Airport after the runway reopened read: "There's some disruption to flights today.

"Customers should contact their airline with flight queries. We're very sorry for any inconvenience caused while essential runway repairs were carried out."

One easyJet passenger who is due to fly on the evening of August 8 asked the airline over social media how long the queues were to get through security. The company responded at around 10.45am: "Unfortunately, we do not have real-time updates on security queue times at Bristol Airport.

"I recommend arriving at the airport at least more than 2 hours before your flight to allow enough time for check-in and security."

In light of the frustrating incident for holidaymakers, you may want to read up on the rules around getting compensation from your airline.

What rights do you have if your flight is delayed?

In some cases, you can get compensation from your airline when your flight is delayed, with amounts varying depending on how long the flight was delayed and the distance of the flight.

However, this is unlikely to apply if your flight is delayed due to an incident outside of your airline's control, such as a runway fault. Guidance from the ABTA (Association of British Travel Agents) explains: "If it wasn’t the airline's fault, you won’t be entitled to receive any compensation.

"Delays caused by things like extreme weather, airport or air traffic control strikes or other 'extraordinary circumstances' are not eligible for compensation."

However, after a certain period of delay for your flight, the airline is obliged to provide certain care for you. This includes:

• Food and drink
• Communication i.e. access to phone calls and emails
• Accommodation if you are delayed overnight - and journeys between the airport and the hotel.

These rights apply regardless of the reason for the delay. These rights kick in if your flight is delayed by:

• At least two hours for flights under 1,500km (such as Glasgow to Amsterdam)
• At least three hours for flights between 1,500km and 3,500km (such as East Midlands to Marrakesh)
• At least four hours for flights over 3,500km (such as London to New York).

Compensation amounts

It's worth bearing in mind the compensation amounts that do apply if your flight is delayed owing to something they are responsible for. You can get compensation in these scenarios if your flight is either delayed or cancelled.

There are compensation amounts that apply if your flight is delayed by three hours. These include:

• If your flight is under 1,500 kilometres - £220 per person.
• If your flight is between 1,500 and 3,500 kilometres - £350 per person.
• If your flight is over 3,500 kilometres (such as London to New York) - £260 per person if between three or four hours late; £520 per person if more than four hours.

You can find out more about compensation and your rights on the Civil Aviation Authority website.