Geneva Cointrin International Airport
Geneva Cointrin International Airport (GVA)
Geneva Airport is officially called the Cointrin International Airport and is a unique airport: it has a French part and a Swiss part. It is six kilometers north of Geneva and is accessible from both France and Switzerland.
Switzerland is not a part of the European Union and does not use the Euro. You can pay in euros, but the amounts here are in Swiss Francs, CHF (1 euro = 1.57 Swiss Francs, April 2006).
Local transport
Train
Geneva Airport has a train station with direct connections to France and Switzerland. Other destinations in Europe are also accessible from Geneva. All trains stop at the central station of Geneva (Cornavin). A trip to the centre takes eight minutes. Information about all public transportation in and around Geneva can be found on the website for Unireso (only in French).
Car and bus
Geneva Airport is along the motorway from Lausanne and Geneva, exit Aéroport / Ferney. From France to the French part of the airport you follow this route: From the A-40 you follow the signs to Ferney-Voltaire (D984 and then D35). Immediately before the border there is an exit to the right, indicated by the white sign 'Aéroport secteur français'. You can download a map where the routes are clearly marked.
Bus line 10 (leaves every 10 minutes) brings you to the centre of Geneva, line 28 (leaves every 20 minutes) goes to the United Nations and Lake Geneva, and line 18 (leaves every 30 minutes) goes to the United Nations.
Car rental Geneva Cointrin International Airport
Car rental in the Swiss Part: Alamo, Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, Holiday Auto and National. In the French part: Avis, Europcar, Hertz and National. If you have to travel to France, rent your car in the French part of the airport! You can also reserve a rental car in advance using the service EasyTerra provides. They compare the rates of several providers in a single quote.
Taxi
Taxis stand outside the Arrivals Hall. The average price to the centre of Geneva is CHF 35.00. Limousines can be reserved through Ambassador (tel: +41(0)227 314 141).
Airport Parking
The airport has space for 4500 cars. The first ten minutes in all parking lots is free. The parking lots are managed by Centre de contrôle des parkings (tel. +41(0)227 177 099).
The underground parking garage P1 right by the terminal is intended for long term parking. Until the end of 2008 parts of P1 are closed because of renovation activities. Prices: first day CHF 30.00, CHF 15.00 for each day after that. Cheaper long term parking is at P20 (first day CHF 25.00, CHF 10.00 each day after that), or P51 (first day CHF 18.00, CHF 8.00 per day after that). Short term parking is possible at P2 (Arrivals Hall, max. one hour, CHF 1.00-2.00) and P3 (Departures Hall, max. 20 min, CHF 1.00).
Services
Hotels
A shuttle bus leaves every 20 minutes from Arrivals Hall to the following hotels: Express Holiday Inn (tel: +41(0)229 393 939), Ramada Park Hôtel (tel: +41(0)227 103 000),Mövenpick Genève (tel: +41(0)227 171 603), NH Geneva Airport Hotel (tel: +41(0)229 899 506), Crowne Plaza (tel: +41 227 470 263), and Holiday Inn Thoiry (in France, tel +33(0)450 991 999).
You can reserve hotel rooms at the counters for the Geneva Tourism or ADAMCO in the Arrivals Hall. For more hotels and reserving online you can go to Booking.com. They have a large offering of hotels with great internet rates.
Shops and Restaurants
Geneva Airport has an extensive shopping area with 50 shops, among which are five duty free shops.
The airport has nine restaurants, and the brasserie Dragon d'Or uitzicht looks over the runway. Furthermore there are 14 bars and coffee shops. With good weather in the summer there is an open air terrace open.
Baggage
Baggage safes are available in the train station (CHF 4.00 – 7.00) and in the Arrivals Hall (with 'coach departure'). If your baggage is lost you can report it to the baggage handlers of Swissport (tel: +41(0)227 993 332). You can also find out about your luggage at the website for Swissport.
You can call a porter via the ISS Facility Services (tel: +41(0)792 902 023). The price is CHF 5.00 for two suitcases.
Information
There is an information kiosk in the Arrivals Hall of the Swiss part (tel: +41(0)227 177 105). In both Arrival Halls there are tourist counters from, respectively, the Swiss and French departments of tourism.
Business
Geneva is the place of business for many international organizations. The airport offers extensive possibilities for conferences, assemblies, and press conferences. Skycom Business Center (tel: +41(0)227 177 800) has 11 rooms with a capacity for four to 120 people. Secretarial support (i.e. translation) is also available. Furthermore, there are eight private offices with telephone, fax, and computer.
Handicapped Persons
The airport is completely adapted for wheelchair users. Furthermore, there are services for the hearing impaired and visually impaired persons. Assistance for handicapped persons are available, but must be requested before hand at (tel: +41(0)22 799 3346).
Other services
Wireless internet is available in the whole terminal.
There are banks, money exchange offices, and cash machines.
The sick bay is available at tel: +41(0)227 177 170.
You can book last minute flights at the counter for L'TUR (tel: +41(0)229 202 010).
Showers are available (CHF 15.00, tel: +41(0)227 177 105).
Groups from min. 15 to max. 30 can have a guided tour of the airport (tel: +41(0)227 177 107).
Contact
Address
Geneva International Airport
PO Box 100
CH-1215 Geneva 15
Switzerland
Telephone, fax, email
Telephone: +41(0)227 177 111
Fax: +41(0)227 984 347
Email: info@gva.ch
Airport Codes
IATA airport code: GVA
ICAO airport code: LSGG
Websites
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