Geneva Airport, formerly known as Cointrin Airport after the village of Cointrin where it lies, is the international airport serving Geneva. The airport runs along the French/Swiss border and is therefor also used by many French people. The airport handles some 15 million passengers a year and is a hub for Swiss International Airlines, easyJet and Etihad Regional.
Most flights from Geneva Airport are to Frankfurt and to Brussels but there are many more flights to other destinations as well, most of them by Swiss Int Air Lines. Every day there are flights to 16 destinations from Geneva Airport. Here are the most popular destinations:
The airport was build in 1919 and is thus one of the oldest in Europe. Some of the buildings on this airport are also probably the oldest airport buildings still in use. The Terminal 2 (which is still used during the winter charter season) was built in 1949. The only runway was extended to its current length in 1960. The current Main Terminal (T1) was opened in 1968. This terminal is where all scheduled flights depart and arrive from. It is divided into 5 piers. One of these, for long-distance flights was in 2017 demolished and a new pier will be constructed on this site (opening in 2020). The old Terminal 2 is used in the winter for charter flights and the facilities here are very limited: just one restaurant and no shops. Passengers can only check-in here and are then bussed to their gate at Terminal 1.
Geneva International Airport is located 4 km from Geneva city centre.
Since 1987 Geneva Airport has its own railway station connecting it to the Geneva-Cornavin Central Station as well as to other cities in Switzerland.
Bus number 5 and 10 departs every 15 minutes towards the city center, except during the night. From the Geneva Airport train station numerous trains depart for Geneva Central Station, just 5 minutes train ride away. Tickets for both bus and train can be obtained from the machines at the station or bus stop and would normally cost Fr. 3.50; you can obtain a free transport ticket from the Geneva Transport Machine (TPG) in the baggage claim area. This ticket is valid for 80 minutes in Geneva and its suburbs.
See for tickets and schedule: buses: tpg.ch .
A taxi from the airport into the city would cost about Fr. 30.
Best option to get into the city is to get the free transport ticket, take a train to the central station and from there a taxi to your final destination.
All prices quoted here were found in July 2017