Hundreds of cars are thought to have caught fire in the blaze, Stavanger Aftenblad reported. All flights at the airport were subsequently held.

The fire was initially reported at 3:33pm on Tuesday. The initial alert was a report of an electric car having caught fire, but police later confirmed to NRK that the fire started in a 2005 model diesel car.

Fire services worked until around midnight to bring the blaze under control after it engulfed the five-storey multi-level car park.

Flight traffic was scheduled to resume on Wednesday morning but some delays could still occur, according to airport operator Avinor.

Passengers are advised to check flight information via Avinor's website or with airlines..

Car park P1, where the fire began, can hold up to 3,000 cars and was almost full when the blaze started, according to police. Part of the structure has collapsed due to the fire.

Police operation leader Victor Frenne-Jensen said no injuries had been reported to police in connection with the fire.

Prime Minister Erna Solberg commented on the incident, having been in Stavanger to open the new Johan Sverdrup oil field at the time the fire broke out. The PM was delayed in returning to Oslo as a result.

“It’s going to be a road trip from Stavanger to Oslo,” Solberg tweeted.

She then asked “what’s the best fast food place” along the 550-kilometre journey.