The ruling could set a precedent that affects thousands of other passengers with similar claims.

Jet2 had argued that the compensation payments should be delayed until the outcome is known of a similar case is heard in the Netherlands.

However a judge at Liverpool County Court ruled that “a line should be drawn. Justice delayed is justice denied”.

The EU has ruled that airlines must pay out for delayed flights, although a number of airlines have yet to pay out.

Five airlines in the UK have issued applications to delay payments, the BBC said – Jet2, Thomas Cook, Ryanair, Flybe and WizzAir.

The Jet2 case which was heard in Liverpool involved Kim Allenwho had claimed £292 compensation following an almost seven-hour delay when flying from Manchester to Malaga in 2012.

“We’ve all been kept waiting for so long, but I’m really happy with today’s decision,” she said after the judge’s ruling, the BBC reported.

“Hopefully now it’s time for the airlines to pay us what the law says they should.”

Her solicitor, Kevin Clarke from Bott & Co, said he hoped “the airlines will now finally face up to their obligations to passengers and to settle the hundreds of thousands of legitimate claims outstanding.

“Sadly, the history of their conduct over the last decade would tell us to expect yet another legal challenge.”

The case arose after 2004 European regulations stated that airlines in some cases, must pay compensation to passengers for cancellations and delays if they are not due to extraordinary circumstances.

A further ruling in 2009 by the European Court of Justice in 2009 confirmed that delayed passengers should be treated as if their flights had been cancelled, if the delay was longer than three hours, entitling them to cash compensation.

However despite the ruling, a number of airlines in the UK still argued that some technical problems should be classified as extraordinary circumstances, and that subsequently, no compensation should be due.

They have also argued that paying compensation for delays of three hours or more is disproportionate and too great a burden.