- How it all began
- Further development of the airport
- Airport structure
- Airport features
- Availability
The second largest international airport in Switzerland after Zurich Airport is located almost on the border with France. This is the Geneva airport, which is also sometimes called Geneva-Cointrin after the village around which it was built. The airport mainly serves Geneva and the French-speaking part of Switzerland. But its convenient location allows residents and guests of neighboring France to use it. Moreover, the airport is divided into 2 zones: French and Swiss. Passengers traveling from or to France pass to the airport without hindrance, bypassing customs and border controls.
Since 1999, Geneva Airport has been the main base for the low-cost airline EasyJet Switzerland.
After a slight decrease in passenger traffic in 2009 due to the economic crisis, the number of passengers arriving at the airport is growing steadily. Currently, the airport's capacity reaches 15 million passengers per year.
Also, Geneva Airport is a large air cargo center that receives cargo planes from different countries of Europe and the world.
How it all began
The history of the current Geneva airport begins in 1919. It was founded just 4 km from the city near the small village of Cointrin. At that time, there was only a landing site and several wooden sheds under which one could hide from the piercing wind, rain and snow. From 1926 to 1931, the sheds were demolished, and in their place, 3 concrete pavilions were built. At first, the airport served only a few flights. The planes of the German carrier Lufthansa flew from Berlin to Barcelona via Halle, Leipzig, Geneva and Marseille, while Swissair's transport flew on the Geneva-Lyon-Paris route.
By 1930, Geneva airport was already cooperating with six air carriers, which offered the general public 6 different destinations. In 1937, the first concrete runway, 405 m long and 21 m wide, was built. In 1938, the airport already served 8 airlines: Swissair, KLM, Lufthansa, Air France, Malert (Hungary), AB Aerotransport (Sweden), Alpar (Switzerland) and Imperial Airways (UK).
During World War II, the Swiss government banned all flights from Switzerland. In 1945, the runway of the Geneva airport was increased to 1200 m. At the same time, the authorities agreed to a project to build the first local terminal. It was planned to allocate 2.3 million Swiss francs for it. By 1946, the new terminal, now known as Terminal 2, was ready for use. The runway was increased to 2000 m. One end of it was right on the French-Swiss border. The lands of the French commune Ferney-Voltaire began immediately behind the strip. Therefore, the authorities of the two neighboring countries agreed on the further continuation of the strip.
In 1947, the first flight to New York was made from Geneva. The flight was operated by Swissair on a Douglas DC-4 aircraft. On July 17, 1959, a jet plane landed for the first time at Geneva airport. Eleven years later, it received the "Boeing 747" of the airline "TWA".
Further development of the airport
In 1960, the airport's runway was extended to its current length of 3,900 meters. Stripes of this length are rarely found at such small airports. The enlargement of the runway also led to the construction of a tunnel leading to Ferney-Voltaire. Because of this, the old village of La Limite ceased to exist.
In 1968, construction began on the second runway. At the same time, it was planned to start work on a new terminal, but this plan was not implemented. On May 7, 1968, the main terminal was opened at Geneva airport, which could receive 7 million passengers a year. This record was only set in 1985.
Although the airport did not serve the flights of the supersonic aircraft "Concorde" on a permanent basis, such vehicles still landed here twice. On August 31, 1976, more than 5 thousand people gathered to watch the landing of "Concorde".
In 1987, a railway station was built next to the main terminal, which made it possible to get to the airport by train. Since then, the airport has been rebuilt and improved several times.
Pier C was recently completed and will accommodate 7 large aircraft such as the Boeing 777 or Airbus A330. The new pier, built on the site of a small 1970s building, also accommodates regular aircraft. It serves flights to countries outside the Schengen area.
In 2010, Geneva airport was connected by air with 105 settlements, 78 of which are located in Europe. Among the most popular destinations are London, Milan, Berlin, Paris, Madrid, etc.
Airport structure
Geneva Airport is considered the third busiest in the world after London Gatwick Airport and the air terminal in San Diego. The airport has one concrete runway. Parallel to it is another, overgrown with grass. It is used for takeoff and landing of light aircraft.
There are 2 terminals on the territory of the airport - a new one and an old one. The old one is modest in size and is now used for servicing charter flights. The new one was built a few hundred meters from the old one. In the 2000s, a western wing was added to it.
Terminal 1, also known as the Main Terminal, has 5 piers: A, B, C, D and F. Piers A, B, C and D are located in the Swiss side of Terminal 1. Here's a more detailed description of each:
- Pier A is located directly in front of the main shopping area and is intended for flights to the Schengen countries;
- pier B consists of two circular satellite buildings. They can be accessed from the sector with trade pavilions through an underground passage, which also houses passport control;
- Pier C, which receives aircraft from non-Schengen countries, is to the right of Pier A. It serves wide-body aircraft;
- pier D is intended for directions both to the Schengen countries and to other states. It is accessed by underground corridors from the left side of pier A.
Before Switzerland joined the Schengen area in 2008, Pier F, also known as the French sector, was used exclusively for passengers arriving or departing from destinations in France.
Terminal 2 is only used during winter. It was built in 1946 and was in active operation until the 1960s, when the main terminal appeared. There is no special entertainment in Terminal 2. There is one restaurant and several duty free shops.
Geneva airport wanted to upgrade Terminal 2 and give it to EasyJet, which operated up to 80 flights a day in winter. Other major airlines have threatened to terminate the contract with the airport if EasyJet has its own terminal with a lower cost of service. Since then, there has been no more information about updating Terminal 2.
Airport features
Geneva Airport is equipped with a system of 282 solar panels, which are used to generate energy for heating the terminal building in winter and cooling it in summer. This high-tech facility was opened in June 2013.
The cargo hold of the airport has all the necessary equipment for the storage and safety of transported goods. There are zones with refrigerating chambers for perishable goods, a chamber for radioactive substances, safes for securities, warehouses that are heated in winter, a loading platform with a carrying capacity of 18 tons. Geneva Airport prides itself on its service and reliability. So, punctuality in loading goods, the absence of strikes, and ensuring the safety of transported things are especially noted here. Various goods are transported through the airport. Basically, these are spare parts for cars, computer equipment, chemical products, watches, jewelry, etc. Directly from the airport you can access the motorways from the French and Swiss sides.
Availability
Geneva Airport is located a few kilometers from the city center. You can get to Geneva by car or taxi on the A1 highway. The taxi fare will be around CHF 45. Drivers also accept euros for payment.
The easiest way to get to Geneva or other cities in Switzerland is by train, which departs directly from the airport building. The journey to Geneva, to the Geneva-Cornavin stop, takes less than 10 minutes.
Geneva is connected with the airport and bus service. Regular city buses run every 8-10 minutes, depending on the time of day. By the way, the airport does not work at night, and its terminals are closed for several hours, so there are no night flights here.
From Geneva airport buses leave for the French Annecy and Chamonix and the ski resorts of Switzerland. Buses to the ski resorts run only in the winter, high season. Many transfer companies offer transportation to famous French resorts.
Every passenger arriving in Geneva can receive a free ticket, valid for travel on city buses and trains. Travel time on such a ticket should not exceed 80 minutes. The number of these tickets is not large. Therefore, experienced travelers immediately after landing the plane, before passing through customs, follow to special machines, where they receive a ticket for a reduced fare. The rest of the passengers who are not so lucky have to buy tickets.
