Destination Guide : Geneva Airport
Geneva International Airport (IATA code GVA) welcomes over 11.5 million passengers a year, many of whom take onward airport transfers to nearby ski resorts such as Chamonix and Morzine/Avoriaz. The airport is one of the busiest in Switzerland and is a major hub for the likes of easyJet and Swiss airlines.
The airport is just 4km outside of Geneva City Centre and straddles the border with France and Switzerland. The airport is undergoing a large expansion programme, with the renovated T1+ terminal officially opened in November 2009, offering improved passenger facilities both airside and landside, more gates for planes and revised security procedures to meet Geneva Airport’s Schengen requirements
Although Switzerland is not in the EU, it has signed up to Schengen and the changes to security procedures now mean that when you are departing from Geneva airport you will go through security at the entrance to departures, rather than at the gates before boarding your plane. As with all airports, Geneva follows the strict guidelines regarding restrictions to hand luggage. For the latest information on this, check with your airline.
For more information check out the official Geneva Airport information website available in English, French and German.
Geneva Airport and Mountain Drop Offs
Booking a Geneva airport transfer with Mountain Drop Offs means we are at arrivals to meet you 24hs a day, seven days a week for your summer trips or your winter ski holiday transfers. We offer a personalised service rather than running to a timetable, making us the most flexible of Geneva airport transport options. With shared transfers from 25€ per person and private transfers costing 20€ when eight travel together, we offer excellent value for money too.
We aim to make your transfer from Geneva airport to the Chamonix area as smooth as possible. We’ve got child seats for your kids and plenty of luggage space for your bags and skis/boards (which, unlike most airlines we still carry for free!) and as soon as you pass through the arrival doors at Geneva airport, there will be a uniformed Mountain Drop Offs driver or co-ordinator to greet you.
Throughout the week, your Mountain Drop Offs vehicle will drop you off and pick you up right outside departures and arrivals. During the weekends all departure drop offs are right outside too, but the strict airport regulations at Geneva mean that for weekend arrivals, we will lead you to your pick up area by the train station. All airport transfer companies operating in and out of Geneva Airport are obliged to adhere to these regulations, but many don’t bother to tell you.
If you’re gasping for a coffee or a snack to takeaway before hopping onboard your Mountain Drop Offs transfer, The Hub coffee shop, which is right next to the arrivals doors, offers discounts to Mountain Drop Offs clients (see the vouchers on your email transfer booking confirmation). 
If your transfer isn’t leaving straight away, you can head to the Mountain Drop Offs passenger corner in the Swiss Chalet café and restaurant located at the end of the arrivals hall.
Exclusive to Mountain Drop Offs clients and partners, this tranquil corner of the Swiss Chalet is the perfect place to sip a coffee, check your emails on your laptop or flick through magazines. Again as a Mountain Drop Offs client, you can make use of your special money off vouchers valid for meal deals and drinks at the Swiss Chalet (see you transfer confirmation document for more details of this and other offers exclusive to Mountain Drop Offs clients).
During high season, we have a satellite office at the Swiss Chalet, so it’s the perfect place to congregate and meet, with a member of Mountain Drop Offs staff on hand to help too. You can also contact our English/French speaking team in the Mountain Drop Offs Chamonix HQ on 00 33 4 50 47 17 73.
GVA – Did you know?
• The airport now offers one hour of free wifi access to all – you just need to find the network ‘Free WiFi GVA’, enter your mobile number and then use the access code sent to your ‘phone
• The airport is no smoking, but there is a swish smoking lounge. Go through security into departures and the lounge is on the right hand side past all the shops
• You can pay in euros or Swiss francs at restaurants and bars both airside and landside at Geneva Airport, so no need to change money when you’re onward travel is in to France
• There is a full range of shops and services in the train station (The ‘Gare CCF’ accessed via arrivals) including a left luggage service, supermarket, restaurants and even a hairdressers and manicurist
• Shower rooms are available (15chf) at arrivals and airside in departures
• If you’re travelling with children visit the children’s crèche on the mezzanine level once you’ve gone through security. There are games, books and slides as well as a rest area and kitchen. Access is free for 0-5 year olds accompanied by a parent and is open 08:00 to 20:00
• Don’t forget a 2chf or 2euro coin for your luggage trolley (or ‘caddy’ in French) and if you’re travelling with oversize bags (skis, snowboards, bikes, golf clubs etc) these items arrive on the oversize baggage lift which is on your right as you enter the luggage reclaim hall
• Lost/damaged bags – contact the correct handling agent office for your airline as there are two (Dnata for British Airways, Jet2 and MyTravel, Swissport for easyJet, Aer Lingus and Swiss)
• Although a busy airport, terminal T1+ actually shuts between 00:00 and 04:00 each night
