Travellers can enjoy all day eating and drinking at a new airport restaurant which opens today.

The Boulevard Cafe replaces the bar by the departure gate and is three times the size.

Supervisor Nicky Russo, of the MEF group, said the restaurant will be open from nine in the morning till at least eight at night.

He said: "If we get people knocking on the door we will open after that."

When it is fully completed it will seat more than 50 people and there is also seating in the corridor and al fresco dining outside. The restaurant will employ nine staff - three of the jobs are new.

Manage of Terminals Mike Osborn said: "The facility is available to meeters and greeters and is long overdue.

"It's a high class venue that diners in the area can enjoy."

Mr. Russo said the menu will span the globe with Chinese and Italian being offered as well as local dishes such as codfish and potatoes and fishcakes and bananas.

The restaurant is part of a plan to upgrade facilities at the airport said new General Manager James Howes who took over his three-year post on Wednesday.

Mr. Howes has run an airport in Florida for more than 20 years.

He said he was impressed by the set-up at the airport and the dedication of the staff.

He said: "I am very impressed by the level of service already here and the potential for growth. It compares very favourably with places like the Caymans."

Mr. Howes said he would be promoting the airport in US cities such as Chicago to try and get direct links.

He said: "A lot of Americans don't realise that Bermuda is so close. It is closer to fly from New York to Bermuda than to fly to a resort in Florida.

"In this new job I am going to be competing against my old airport."