West Midlands Police said an Explosive Ordnance Disposal team dealt with a vehicle that was eventually deemed safe but caused chaos at the airport.
Passengers were unable to check in to their outbound journey, some flights were delayed and one flight was cancelled.
While there was just one cancelled flight, some passengers were at risk of missing connecting flights to other destinations and the airport issued a warning to passengers not to come to the airport.
However, if you missed your flight or packaged holiday, you may be able to claim some money back.
In all cases, if you are given fewer than 14 days’ notice of a cancelled flight, you can claim compensation in pounds or euros, depending on where you were flying from.
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You are also entitled to complimentary food and drinks in the time you spend waiting for your flight to arrive.
The amount you can claim rises depending on the length of your journey.
The payments are as follows:
- £220 ($250) for flights of 1,500km or fewer (Glasgow to Amsterdam)
- £350 ($400) for flights of between 1,500km and 3,500km (East Midlands to Marrakech)
- £520 ($600) for all longer flights (London to New York)
Options for flight delays and cancellations
Following the disruption at Birmingham Airport, a Claims.co.uk spokesperson said: “If you have booked a package holiday and your flights are cancelled, you have the rights to either claim a full refund, a reroute of the trip destination [or] potentially compensation from the airline.
“However, in these specific circumstances, delays and cancellations caused by air traffic control restrictions are considered an ‘extraordinary circumstance’ and therefore do not qualify for compensation.
“In cases of flight delays and flight cancellations due to an ‘extraordinary circumstance,’ the airline must provide you with additional services, depending on the length of your delay and waiting time.”
They added: “These additional services include free meals and refreshments, which you are entitled to when your flight is delayed by at least two hours. Passengers should also receive a free overnight accommodation and a transfer to and from the airport if the flight is shifted to the next day.
“If a travel operator needs to cancel a package holiday for any reason, they are required to notify you as soon as possible and without undue delay. This is to ensure that you have enough time to help you make alternative arrangements or seek refunds.
“However, in many people’s case, due to the disruption, if you are at the airport when the flight is cancelled, it is advised that you contact your travel company straight away to talk through your options.”
The compensation service has provided four tips to consider when deciding whether to change your holiday plans or go for a full refund.
Your flight refund considerations:
1. Refund amount: If the travel operator is offering a full refund, this could be financially more appealing, especially if you are uncertain about your future travel plans.
2. Availability: Consider whether the dates the travel operator offers you are a suitable alternative date for your original trip. If the new dates do not align with your schedule, rescheduling might not be a viable option.
3. Change fees: Check if the travel operator is waiving any change fees for rescheduling. Some operators might impose fees for changing travel dates, which could impact your decision.
4. Travel insurance: If you have travel insurance, review your policy to see if it covers cancellations or changes due to unforeseen circumstances. This might influence your decision to reschedule or opt for a refund.
