The pre-feasibility study has shown there is strong potential to increase agricultural exports from regional NSW, according to NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro, who first proposed the "paddock to plane" concept in May.

"When we started investigating the feasibility of exporting produce directly from regional NSW, we imagined that would mean packing perishables on planes from a limited number of regional airports," Mr Barilaro said.

"This study has broadened our thinking to look across our entire regional supply chain so we can get produce from all parts of the state to premium destinations in Asia, faster.

"Further investigation will consider every step of the supply chain from the farm gate to the international customer who is buying fresh NSW produce.

"This includes temperature-controlled cargo, cold storage requirements, trade agreements with international export partners - there's many steps that need to be right to ensure the high export-quality of our NSW produce."

Andrew Cottrill, the Riverina-Murray regional manager of the NSW Business Chamber, is backing the development of the air freight network.

"If you are going to build such a network, Riverina-Murray would be ideal. It's the food bowl of Australia," he said.

Mr Cottrill said exports of food like nuts, milk products, fruit and even wine, could be boosted by easier access to export markets.

He said Wagga's airport was an ideal location for a regional freight hub.

"It has the capacity for aircraft and the freight hub at Bomen is coming on," Mr Cottrill said.

"It makes a lot of sense that our region would be a base."

According to Mr Barilaro's office, the next phase of investigation into the project's development involves "in-depth analysis of market demand and the supply chain, industry engagement and an economic, commercial and financial evaluation of the opportunity". This is expected to be done by mid-2020.