Geneva International Airport (IATA: GVA, ICAO: LSGG), formerly known as Cointrin Airport and officially as Genève Aéroport, is an airport serving Geneva, Switzerland. It is located 4 km (2.5 mi) northwest^[1] of the city centre and has direct connections to motorways, bus lines (Geneva Public Transport) and railways (SBB-CFF-FFS). Its northern limit runs along the Swiss-French border and the airport can be accessed from both countries. Passengers on flights to or from France do not have to go through Swiss customs and immigration controls if they remain in the French sector of the airport. The freight operations are also accessible from both countries, making Geneva a European Union freight hub although Switzerland is not a member of the EU. The airport is partially located within the commune of Meyrin and partially in the commune of Grand-Saconnex.^[2][3]

The airport has a single concrete runway, which is the longest in Switzerland with a length of 3,900 m (12,795 ft), and a smaller, parallel, grass runway for light aircraft. It is a major hub for EasyJet Switzerland and Darwin Airline, a lesser hub for Swiss International Air Lines and the former hub of Swiss World Airways, which ceased operations in 1998. Geneva International Airport has extensive convention facilities and hosts an office of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the world headquarters of Airports Council International (ACI).

Geneva airport has two terminal (T1 and T2). T1, also know as Main terminal (M) is divided over 5 piers, A, B, C, D and F. Pier A, and some of the gates at pier D are Shengen gates. Passengers that board flights at those gates do not need to pass through passports check. Gates at pier B, C, and some at pier D, are use for flight going out of the Shengen states. Pier C is use mostly for widebodies aircraft and is about to go through hugs changes, as a new terminal project is about to start in 2012. The new terminal will accommodate up to seven widebodies aircrafts at once, including a A380 capable gate. A new gate for medium size aircraft will be created were is standing the actual terminal. Some of the gate could either handle one widebodie aircraft or two medium-short haul aircraft. Construction is shedshule to to finish by 2015. The new terminal is estimated to cost about 300M Swiss Francs, and will be about 530 meters long and 15 meters wide. This new terminal will replace the temporary terminal that was build during the 70's. Constructions as been delay when Swissair moved all it's long haul operation in Zurich in 1996. The 9/11 and the bankrupt of the national airlines in 2001 delay it furthermore. Lately a few airlines such as, Emirates, Ethiad and Qatar Airways started to use the facility along with United and Swiss International Airlines. The need for this new terminal was then urgent. Pier F, also know as French Sector, is use for passenger coming, or going in France. It as two gates with jet bridge and four gates that can be reach by bus. The future of this particular terminal is unknown as there is no need for it, since Switzerland and France are part of the Shengen states.

T2 is use during the winter charter season. This is the first terminal at at Geneva Airport. It as been build in 1946 and remain in use until the 1960's when the Main terminal opened. Facilities and T2 are relay poor, with only one restaurant and no duty free shop. Passengers are only check-in at this terminal, and then, send to the main terminal with a low floor bus. Geneva Airport wanted to refurbish T2 as a low-cost terminal. At this time EasyJet was the major low-cost airlines in Geneva with up to 80 flight a day during winter. Other major airlines a GVA threaten to leave the airport if EasyJet will end up with it's own terminal. Since then, there is no information about a upgrade of T2 facilities.

In 2011, the airport served 13,130,222 passengers and 189,121 aircraft movements.^[4]

History

Geneva airport was created in 1919 as a simple field in Coitrin, near the city of Geneva. From 1926 to 1931, the wooden shed were replace by tree concrete one. Back in the time, the was a little traffic with Lufthansa flying from Berlin to Barcelona via Halle, Leipzig, Geneva and Marseille. Swissair also flew the Geneva-Lyon-Paris route in a codeshare with Air Union. In 1930 there was six airlines that flew to Geneva Airport flying seven different routes. In 1937 the first concrete runway was build, it was 405 meters long and 21 meters wide. in 1938 eight airlines were flying to Geneva: Swissair, KLM, Lufthansa, Air France, Malert (Hungary), AB Aero Transport (Sweden), Alpar (Switzerland) and Imperial Airways (UK).

During WWII the swiss authority forbade all flights from Switzerland. Then in 1945 the runway was been enlarged to 1200m and the authority agree a 2.3M Swiss Francs project to build a first terminal in Geneva. In 1946 the new terminal, with is today T2 was ready for use and the runway was enlarge once more to 2000m. In 1947 the first service to New York started with a Swissair Douglas DC-4. On july 17th 1959 the first jet aircraft came down a Geneva, an SAS Caravelle, and it's only 11 years later, in 1970, that a TWA Boeing 747 landed in Geneva.

In 1968 a project of a second runways and a mid field rond terminal was propose but never come reality.

On may 7th 1968 Geneva Main Terminal was inaugurated, and was plan to accommodate 7M passenger a years. This number was reach in 1985. In 1987 Geneva airport was link to the Swiss railroad with a new station build close to the main terminal. Since then a few changes has been made. Two of the tree in field terminal as been upgrade with jet bridge, a new terminal has been build in front of the main terminal with 12 jet bridges, plus two ground floor gates and lately a new terminal was inaugurate in front of the old terminal building.

Future

The 2007-2015 master plan is coming to an end with the construction of pier C, that will enable seven aircraft such as Boeing B777 or A330-340 to connect the terminal via jet bridges. This new terminal will also be use by airlines using smaller aircraft, and flying to non-Shengen country. Changes as already been made in the main terminal with the construction of a new check-in area, new restaurant and duty free shops, as well as a new security check. With all this changes Geneva attend to be a more efficient airport for passenger and employee. Unfortunately the lack of presence of a traditional airlines such as Swiss International Airlines seems to slow down all project.

As of January 2012, and according to the official web site, Geneva International Airport was looking for a new team to develop the terminal landside. Upgrade might be done within five years, and transformation will upgrade check in and arrival level.

Airlines and destinations

Passenger Airlines

Cargo Airlines

Other facilities

The airline Baboo had its head office on the grounds of the airport and in Grand-Saconnex.^[6][7]

Ground connections