Geneva International Airport
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva International Airport
Switzerland's international gateway serving Geneva and neighboring France.
- ›Geneva Airport has a unique French sector allowing direct entry into France without Swiss border controls.
- ›It is one of the oldest continuously operating commercial airports in the world, with origins dating to 1920.
- ›The airport serves as a key gateway for United Nations agencies and international organizations headquartered in Geneva.
- ›A free public transport ticket is included with every arriving flight ticket for use on Geneva's city transit network.
- ›IATA code GVA is one of the most recognized in Europe due to Geneva's global diplomatic and financial prominence.
Geneva International Airport, also known as Cointrin Airport, has served the city since 1920, making it one of Europe's oldest commercial aviation hubs. Straddling the Franco-Swiss border, it uniquely operates a French sector allowing direct access to France without Swiss customs. As the second busiest airport in Switzerland, it connects diplomats, tourists, and business travellers to over 150 destinations worldwide.
- Main Terminal (Terminal 1) — The single integrated passenger terminal handling all departures and arrivals, divided into Swiss and French sectors with separate customs zones.
- French Sector (Secteur France) — A dedicated zone within the terminal allowing passengers travelling to or from France to bypass Swiss border controls entirely.
- Direct rail connection to Geneva Cornavin station (approx. 6 minutes) via the on-site train station beneath the terminal
- TPG public bus services connecting to the city centre and surrounding areas
- Taxi ranks located directly outside the arrivals hall
- Car rental desks from major providers including Hertz, Avis, Europcar, and Sixt
- Cross-border coach services to France including Annecy and Lyon
- Ride-hailing services available via app from designated pickup zones
- Crowne Plaza Geneva
- Mövenpick Hotel Geneva Airport
- Ibis Geneva Airport
- Holiday Inn Express Geneva Airport
- Radisson Blu Hotel Geneva
Inside the terminal, passengers will find a solid mix of Swiss and international options including sit-down restaurants, cafés, and grab-and-go outlets from brands such as Relay and local Swiss eateries. Airside options cater well to the busy transfer crowd, with several spots open early for pre-dawn departures. The nearby Meyrin and Palais des Nations districts offer a wider range of authentic local dining for those with time before their flight.
- Collect your free public transport ticket from the baggage carousel area upon arrival — it gives you 80 minutes of free travel on Geneva's public transport network.
- If travelling onward to France, use the dedicated French Sector entrance to avoid going through Swiss customs and streamline your journey.
- The airport train station is directly beneath the terminal and is the fastest and cheapest way into the city centre — buy your ticket before boarding.
- Currency exchange rates at airport kiosks are significantly less favourable than in the city; use a local ATM or exchange bureau in town if possible.
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Geneva Airport – formerly and still unofficially known as Cointrin Airport – is the international airport for Geneva, the second most populous city in Switzerland. It is located 4 km (2.5 mi) northwest of the city centre. It surpassed the 15-million-passengers-a-year mark for the first time in December 2014. The airport serves as a hub for Swiss International Air Lines and easyJet Switzerland. It features a network of flights mainly to continental European destinations as well as some long-haul routes to North America, China, Africa, and the Middle East, amongst them Swiss International Air Lines' only long-haul service outside Zürich, to New York–JFK.
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