In recent months, passengers have faced a maze of corridors to get from the plane to their baggage and so to the car park.

Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall said: “The new facility will vastly improve the passenger experience.”

Apart from passenger comfort, the upgrade means bigger planes (such as the Q400, which seats 74 passengers compared to the currently used 300 series which seat 50) can use the airport.

The hope is that this might mean more direct services to more places, particularly Newcastle, Melbourne and Brisbane.

It may also increase competition if new operators move in, and so bring fares down.

The new facility has wifi, phone charging ports and electronic departure and arrival boards.

Check-in stays in its current position to the left of the terminal as you look towards the runway. Departures are through a much enlarged lounge with what airport manager, Tim Weeks, called “really funky furniture … there’s 48 skylights across the top and floor-to-ceiling windows.”