The close call came a week after 170 flights into and out of the NSW capital were cancelled last week, just as NSW’s school holiday getaway began.

The airport has described the challenging upgrade as being like “open heart surgery” but said the new process would eventually reduce the number of lost items.

The Flying Kangaroo will add 16 flights between Sydney and Melbourne and Christchurch and Wellington, alongside another 50 interstate flights within Australia.

Rex has dismissed Whyalla City Council’s claim that it could not afford to modify its airport terminal as a “deceitful and deceptive” assertion.