Geneva International

Operated By:

L'Aéroport International de Genève (AIG)

Website:

www.gva.ch/en

Terminals:

1

This Review:

Only Terminal

Rating:

4 star - Very good service with many plus points and very few negatives
  GVA
GENEVA
TT0107 /221750

 
Review created: 10/05/2004;
Last updated 26/12/2019

General:

Very modern and compact airport just on the outskirts of town
   

Appearance:

A slightly strange airport with some areas looking modern whilst a short walk away an area looks like it dates from the 70s or 80s. My flight departed from the B gates, which are two circular terminals that mushroom out from the airfield, access is via underground tunnels under the A gates, so you don't get to see much of the airport. The area around the B gates are some of the most dated parts of the airport.

Inbound

Domestic
I have only flown into the airport from an international flight

International
The gate that the plane pulled up at is very odd in so much as there is no visible physical link to the main terminal building it's just this small round hall protruding from the airport. All of the connections into the building are underneath the airfield!! After a short walk down a corridor you reach the three immigration desks and from there it's a long walk (albeit with travellators to speed it all up) under the airfield back to the main terminal building where you arrive into the light and airy baggage reclaim hall. The baggage came round after about 5 minutes but as we were in row 1 and about the first off the flight that's not so surprising. Then it was through the deserted (at 10am) customs hall and out into the land-side of the airport.

Despite the fact that it is not part of the EU the channel for Swiss nationals also allows EU through and I didn't even stop just went to show my picture and was waived through. My friend who was on a US passport went through just as quick!

Very large and airy baggage reclaim hall with the baggage descending from above onto the belts. The baggage took about 5 minutes to arrive, but we were first off the plane!!

A very short customs channel with absolutely no staff runs from the baggage reclaim hall to the outside. There appear to be at least 2 green channels but only 1 red channel!!

Several trains an hour (although not evenly spaced) connect the airport to the central station taking about 5 minutes. There are also regular trolley busses running into the centre of the city taking about 25 minutes. In the baggage reclaim hall use the TPG vending machines to collect an 80-minute free ticket that allows you to travel into the centre of Geneva for free and get to most hotels. If you are staying in a hotel in the city centre they will give you a free travel ticket for the length of your stay.

Outbound

Domestic
I have only flown internationally from this airport

International
The main part of the ground floor of the airport is take up with the check-in desks. The whole area is very light with lots of windows and natural lighting. Going up the escalators you reach the shopping mall and food court which rivals even London airports for the number of establishments fighting to relieve you of your money. The security area takes up much of the width of the floor here with lots of open belts, ensuring a speedy and quick journey through. Once on the other side there are yet more shops and restaurants. The airport is divided into three areas (A, B & C) our flight left from B which means going down under the airfield to the small gates that appear to mushroom from the airfield. The passport checks for non-Schengen flights take place underneath the B gates, and with only three booths this can take some time.

There are a couple of bars on the land-side with matching counterparts on the airside.

There are a couple of restaurants/cafes on the land-side with matching counterparts on the airside. There is also a small cafe in the area around the gates.

There are a couple of restaurants/cafes on the land-side with matching counterparts on the airside.

There are several shops on both sides of security with a large duty free shop just as you emerge from passport control.

The toilets are very clean and well maintained.