Geneva airport Ranked Europe’s Most Efficient Mid-Sized Airport
“Geneva airport is a leader in Europe in its environmentally friendly actions concerning noise reduction, waste treatment and energy conservation.”
Robert Deillon, Chief Executive Officer
Geneva airport (Genève Aéroport) handles almost 13 million passengers and more than 60,000 tonnes of freight every year and is ranked Europe’s second busiest business aviation hub. The airport has been growing rapidly in its passenger numbers and flights, continuing to add new routes to its portfolio.
Travellers are attracted by Geneva Airport’s convenient location only minutes from Geneva’s city centre as well as by its exceptional efficiency and customer service. In fact, this year Geneva Airport was named Europe’s most efficient mid-sized airport for the second year in a row.
Robert Deillon, Chief Executive Officer, points out that the airport’s location is also its biggest challenge. He says, “We cannot build a new terminal because we do not have room. We try to compensate our passengers for this by focusing on service. We are now building a new concourse, the CHF 300 million (€275.6 million), 530 metre long East Wing, which will have gates designed to handle wide-bodied and smaller aircraft; it is set to open in 2015.” To help cope with peak ski season traffic, the airport installed a mobile terminal in December last year.
Cutting edge environmental technologies
The East Wing will be equipped with solar panels and will not only produce its own energy but also a surplus. Robert Deillon notes, Geneva airport is a leader in Europe in its environmentally friendly actions concerning noise reduction, waste treatment and energy conservation.”
The airport recently unveiled a new corporate identity, Genève Aéroport, which emphasises the airport’s commitment to French speaking Switzerland and nearby France while also being easily understandable worldwide. An autonomous public enterprise since 1994, Geneva Airport is run like a private company. With over 8,500 employees working on the platform and annual turnover of more than CHF 320 million (€294 million), Geneva Airport plays a crucial role in the local economy and has helped to establish Geneva as one of the world’s preferred headquarters for international organisations.
Robert Deillon says that Geneva Airport is currently in the final stages to become certified as a Collaborative Decision Making airport and will perhaps be the only CDM airport with a single runway. He adds, “We are always looking to the future. Our short term goal is to improve our infrastructure and boost our long haul traffic. Our medium term goal, till 2015, is to increase our runway and terminal capacity. Our long term goal is to convince local leaders in Switzerland and France to keep nearby building land free so that the airport can expand.”
