Geneva Airport Departures (GVA)

Flight Departures at Geneva Airport

Geneva Airport is located only 2.5 miles/4 km distance from Geneva city center. Departures have excellent transport connections at their disposal via motorways, city bus lines and rail. In 2018 some 17.6 million passengers traveled via the airport.

The airport lies along the Swiss/French border and both countries have access to the airport facilities, making Geneva part of the European Union network of aviation hubs, even though Switzerland is not a member of the European Union.

Geneva departures typically use Terminal 1, which is the more modern of the two terminals. Terminal 1 has 5 different piers: A, B, C, D and F. Pier F is situated in the French sector.

The older Terminal 2 building is mainly used during the winter, when departures at Geneva Airport for charter flights need additional check-in facilities. Terminal 2 is used only for check-in and passengers must board a shuttle bus to Terminal 1 to catch their flight connections.

Departures at Geneva Airport have a great number of travel connections via Switzerland's extensive rail network, which link with the airport's own railway station. Mainline trains arrive at Geneva-Cornavin station in Geneva city center, from where a short train journey takes passengers to the airport.

During the winter months Geneva departures can board buses from their ski resorts in Italy, Switzerland and France directly to the airport. Throughout the year the airport departures have access to regular local buses, which travel from the city center to the airport.

Just outside the major hotels and train stations as well as 60 other locations within the city passengers can pick up taxis, which will drop them off at the airport's taxi rank. A taxi journey from Geneva city center will cost between CHF 30 to CHF 35.

The journey time by train from Geneva city center is just 6 minutes and during rush hour trains leave every 12 minutes. The airport’s railway station provides direct access to the check-in level. Geneva city buses run every 8 to 15 minutes and drop passengers off at the check-in level, in front of and beside the train station.

Bus lines 5, 10, 14, 23, 28, 57, F and Y run from city destinations to the airport. Passengers staying in airport hotels can avail themselves of the free shuttle buses the Crowne Plaza, Express by Holiday Inn, NH Hotel, Starling Geneva Hotel and Möwenpick Hotel provide. These shuttles run every 20 minutes from the hotel and deposit passengers outside the arrivals level at the airport.

Geneva departures have a choice of more than 80 shops and restaurants, offering anything from delicious 3-course meals or snacks to cosmetics and perfume, magazines and books to fashion accessories and Swiss watches.

Long and short term parking is provided in covered as well as open air facilities. Departure passengers have free WiFi access in Terminal 1 and it is advisable to check-in online, especially when there is no luggage to check-in.

For last minute cash requirements there are several banks and ATM's, currency exchange desks, a tax refund counter and a counter where travelers cheques are handled. The airport provides also post office and laundry services for passengers wishing to deal with last minute correspondence or needing to dry clean their clothes.

For more information about departures at Geneva, please visit the official airport website at www.gva.ch.