Numerous flights have been cancelled or delayed at Halifax Stanfield International Airport after the surface of the main runway was compromised.

A small part of the surface of the most commonly used runway needs to be repaired. By late Sunday afternoon the runway problem was causing not just cancelled flights, but also diversions from the airport.

"As of 4:20 p.m. we've had about eight diversions and about thirty-seven cancelled flights," said Jennifer Delorey Lyon, a communications coordinator at the airport.

Some of the flights cancelled include those headed to Boston, Toronto, Hamilton, Montreal, Ottawa and Sydney.

The airport contacted a construction company, which assessed the damage on Sunday afternoon. There's no word on how long it will take to clear the backlog. Delorey Lyon said the repair work to the runway should be finished Sunday evening.

She's advising air passengers to check with their airline before arriving at the airport for their flights.