Geneva Cointrin International Airport
Encyclopedia
Geneva International Airport , commonly known as Cointrin Airport, is an airport
serving Geneva
, Switzerland. It is located 4 km (2.5 mi) northwest of the city centre and has direct connections to motorways, bus lines 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
.
The airport has a single concrete runway, which is the longest in Switzerland with a length of 3900 m (12,795 ft), and a smaller, parallel, grass runway for light aircraft. It is a major hub for EasyJet Switzerland
and Flybaboo
, 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).
In 2010, the airport served 11,785,522 passengers and 177,401 aircraft movements.
.
The airport is 4 km (2.5 mi) from the Geneva city centre. There is a railway station
with trains to Geneva-Cornavin station
, and other cities in Switzerland. There are local buses that stop at the airport. There are also buses to and from Annecy
, France
, and also seasonal buses to ski resort Chamonix
in France
and ski resorts in Switzerland.
Winter weekends see dozens of coaches at the nearby Charter terminal (former cargo terminal) meeting charter flights from all over Europe, but primarily the UK. These take holidaymakers to/from ski resorts in France, Switzerland & Italy.
Before passing through customs
, machines dispense free 80 minute tickets for Transports Publics Genevois
, which are valid for both the city buses and trains to Geneva.
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
serving Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, Switzerland. It is located 4 km (2.5 mi) northwest of the city centre and has direct connections to motorways, bus lines and railways (SBB-CFF-FFS
SBB-CFF-FFS
Swiss Federal Railways and SFR are not in official use) is the national railway company of Switzerland headquartered in Bern. Formerly a government institution, it is since 1999 a special stock corporation with all shares held by the Swiss Confederation or the Swiss cantons...
). Its northern limit runs along the Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
-French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
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
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
freight hub although Switzerland is not a member of the EU. The airport is partially located within the commune of Meyrin
Meyrin
Meyrin is a municipality of the Canton of Geneva, Switzerland. It is the city located nearest to the CERN particle physics laboratory.Meyrin was originally a small agricultural village until the 1950s, when construction of CERN began just to the north...
and partially in the commune of Grand-Saconnex
Grand-Saconnex
Grand-Saconnex is a municipality of the Canton of Geneva, Switzerland.Several international organizations and permanent missions to the United Nations are located in Grand Saconnex...
.
The airport has a single concrete runway, which is the longest in Switzerland with a length of 3900 m (12,795 ft), and a smaller, parallel, grass runway for light aircraft. It is a major hub for EasyJet Switzerland
EasyJet Switzerland
EasyJet Switzerland SA is a low-cost airline based in Meyrin, Switzerland, operating scheduled flights as an EasyJet franchise out of Geneva Cointrin International Airport and Basel-Mulhouse International Airport....
and Flybaboo
Flybaboo
Fly Baboo SA, marketed as Baboo, is a regional airline based on the grounds of Geneva International Airport and in Grand-Saconnex, Switzerland. The airline's registered office is in Geneva. A subsidiary of Lebanese Investment Group M1, it operates scheduled services within Europe, as well as...
, a lesser hub for Swiss International Air Lines
Swiss International Air Lines
Swiss International Air Lines AG is the principal airline of Switzerland operating scheduled services in Europe and to North America, South America, Africa and Asia. Its main hub is Zurich Airport...
and the former hub of Swiss World Airways
Swiss World Airways
Swiss World Airways was a short-lived airline operating out of Geneva Cointrin International Airport.It was founded in 1997 with the aim of operating on routes abandoned by Swissair, but closed in 1998 for financial reasons. An attempt to save it failed. It had two aircraft: a Boeing 757 and a...
, which ceased operations in 1998. Geneva International Airport has extensive convention facilities and hosts an office of the International Air Transport Association
International Air Transport Association
The International Air Transport Association is an international industry trade group of airlines headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, where the International Civil Aviation Organization is also headquartered. The executive offices are at the Geneva Airport in SwitzerlandIATA's mission is to...
(IATA) and the world headquarters of Airports Council International
Airports Council International
Airports Council International is the association of the world’s airports. It is a non profit organization, whose prime purpose is to advance the interests of airports and to promote professional excellence in airport management and operations...
(ACI).
In 2010, the airport served 11,785,522 passengers and 177,401 aircraft movements.
Passenger Airlines
Cargo Airlines
Other facilities
The airline Baboo has its head office on the grounds of the airport and in Grand-SaconnexGrand-Saconnex
Grand-Saconnex is a municipality of the Canton of Geneva, Switzerland.Several international organizations and permanent missions to the United Nations are located in Grand Saconnex...
.
Ground connections
Geneva Airport railway station
Geneva Airport railway station is a railway station located under the terminal of the Geneva International Airport , in Grand-Saconnex, Geneva, Switzerland....
with trains to Geneva-Cornavin station
Gare de Cornavin
Genève-Cornavin is Geneva's main railway station, located in the centre of the city...
, and other cities in Switzerland. There are local buses that stop at the airport. There are also buses to and from Annecy
Annecy
Annecy is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.It lies on the northern tip of Lake Annecy , 35 kilometres south of Geneva.-Administration:...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, and also seasonal buses to ski resort Chamonix
Chamonix
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc or, more commonly, Chamonix is a commune in the Haute-Savoie département in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. It was the site of the 1924 Winter Olympics, the first Winter Olympics...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and ski resorts in Switzerland.
Winter weekends see dozens of coaches at the nearby Charter terminal (former cargo terminal) meeting charter flights from all over Europe, but primarily the UK. These take holidaymakers to/from ski resorts in France, Switzerland & Italy.
Before passing through customs
Customs
Customs is an authority or agency in a country responsible for collecting and safeguarding customs duties and for controlling the flow of goods including animals, transports, personal effects and hazardous items in and out of a country...
, machines dispense free 80 minute tickets for Transports Publics Genevois
Transports Publics Genevois
Geneva Public Transport operates most of the public transportation system in Geneva Canton, Switzerland, including the city of Geneva. The agency's head office is in Grand-Lancy, Lancy....
, which are valid for both the city buses and trains to Geneva.
Incidents and accidents
- On July 23, 1987 a hijacker was arrested by Swiss authorities on board an Air Afrique DC-10 after the plane had landed at Geneva to refuel. One passenger was shot and killed by the hijacker before he was overpowered by the crew prior to the plane being stormed by the authorities. 1 crew member and 3 other passengers were injured during the incident.
- On 2 September 1998, Swissair Flight 111Swissair Flight 111Swissair Flight 111 was a Swissair McDonnell Douglas MD-11 on a scheduled airline flight from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City, United States to Cointrin International Airport in Geneva, Switzerland...
, bound for Geneva International Airport from John F. Kennedy International AirportJohn F. Kennedy International AirportJohn F. Kennedy International Airport is an international airport located in the borough of Queens in New York City, about southeast of Lower Manhattan. It is the busiest international air passenger gateway to the United States, handling more international traffic than any other airport in North...
in New York City, New York, crashed off of the coast of Nova ScotiaNova ScotiaNova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
due to an in-flight fire originating from the wiring in the plane. All of the 229 passengers and crew died.
Other facts of interest
- The old airport building, located next to the current building, is shown in The Adventures of TintinThe Adventures of TintinThe Adventures of Tintin is a series of classic comic books created by Belgian artist , who wrote under the pen name of Hergé...
story "The Calculus AffairThe Calculus AffairThe Calculus Affair is the eighteenth of The Adventures of Tintin, a series of classic comic-strip albums, written and illustrated by Belgian writer and illustrator Hergé, featuring young reporter Tintin as a hero....
."