INSIDE AIR TRAVEL
Geneva Airport NewsSwitzerland is a small country, so flying from one region to another is a luxury that, considering the efficiency of the train service, few travelers require, unless there is a convenient connection from an intercontinental arrival point (Geneva, Zurich) to a regional airport (Basel, Bern, Lugano, St. Moritz). Geneva airport provides a very good selection of European flights. It is a user-friendly, dynamic airport that intends to meet the needs and expectations of passengers.
Despite the loss to Zurich of most of its international connections in the past few years, the airport is still attractive for travelers in that it is very quick and easy to reach from the city center and the check-in/out is rapid. The transit and waiting lounges are pleasant and the shopping is good although a bit limited as regards the range of products available. Due to the new air-traffic control regulations that became effective in November 1998, all commercial air traffic over Swiss airspace has been subject to delay.
With about 100 destinations regularly served by direct schedule, the airport has improved its air services by strengthening its route network this summer with new routes and more frequent flights. A new Caribbean destination will be available in November 1999 when the Cuban airline, Cubana, will begin operating a scheduled flight from Havana to Geneva and back every week. The new destinations that have been added since summer 1998 are:
Destination
Frequency
Birmingham
2 flights a day Monday to Friday and 1 flight a day Saturday and Sunday
Cologne
1 daily flight (except on Saturdays)
Constantine, Algeria
1 flight on Thursdays
Hurghada, Egypt
1 flight on Sundays
Liverpool
1 daily flight
London-Luton
2 daily flights
Oran, Algeria
1 flight on Saturdays
Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt
1 flight on Sundays
Direct Flights and Connections
With the end of all intercontinental flights, except the daily flight to New York, it seems to take an additional hour or two to arrive at a given destination and increases the risk of missing a connection due to congested European air traffic.The most practical option is to fly to the airports with the shortest flight distances, the shortest connecting times, and the most daily flights from Geneva. Zurich, for example, is the best airport choice for medium-long haul connections because there are almost hourly flights to and from Geneva and travelers don't have to leave Switzerland, but one must always consider the frequent delays and air traffic control problems in Zurich. The other best choices for long-haul connecting flights would be Amsterdam, Brussels, Frankfurt, London and Paris.
The nonstop medium- or long-haul destinations from Geneva are:
Destination
Frequency
Agadir
1 flight on Sundays
Amman
1 flight on Wednesdays and Sundays
Beirut
1 flight on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays
Cairo
1 flight on Fridays and Sundays
Casablanca
2 daily flights (except 1 daily flight on Fridays and Sundays)
Djerba, Tunisia
1 flight on Wednesdays and Saturdays
Hurghada, Egypt
1 flight on Sundays
Istanbul
1 daily flight
Kuwait
1 flight on Wednesdays and Fridays
Marrakech
1 flight on Sundays
Mauritius
1 flight on Fridays
New York
1 daily flight
Riyadh
1 flight on Mondays and Fridays
Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt
1 flight on Sundays
Tangier
1 flight on Saturdays
Tehran
1 flight on Tuesdays
Tel Aviv
1 flight on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays
Tozeur, Tunisia
1 flight on Saturdays
Tunis
2 flights on Saturdays and 1 flight on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays
Most of the time, all other long-haul destinations require one or two flight changes. Airports to fly through for connecting intercontinental flights are:
Destination
Daily Flights
Monday to Friday Flights
Min. Connecting Time
Amsterdam
5
51:00 - 1:15 Brussels
14
160:45 - 1:00 Copenhagen
4
50:45 - 1:00 Frankfurt
7
140:45 - 1:15 London Heathrow
7
91:00 - 1:30 London Gatwick
2
30:45 - 1:00 Madrid
1
10:45 - 1:30 Milan
4
40:45 - 1:30 Paris
14
201:00 - 1:30 Zurich
16
220:45 - 1:00 Bargains and Charter Flights
When planning to fly out of Geneva, one must not forget to check the special bargains offered by many airlines. For example, easyJet's special week: from July 28 to August 6, roundtrips from Geneva to Amsterdam, Barcelona, and Nice will cost only SFr. 79.-.Some Swissair fares are quite attractive. When departing from Geneva to New York the round-trip ticket is SFr. 599.-; to Chicago is SFr. 699.-; and to San Francisco, SFr. 999.-. And for young people (students and those under 26), the airline offers promotional fares to 63 destinations in Europe, from SFr. 199.- to SFr. 499.-; and to 46 destinations in North America, South America, the Middle-East, and Africa from SFr. 590.- to SFr. 990.-. They also have interesting family promotional fares which are recommended for families with children under 16.
Cheap fares are also offered by other airlines for flights from Geneva, for instance, Iberia charges SFr. 1,047.- for a round-trip to Sao Paulo and Air France, SFr. 1,070.- to Bali.
As regards Charter flights, Tunis Air started services to Tabarka and Tozeur and FTI Touristk launched long-haul services to Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic. One can also fly out of Geneva to some intriguing destinations, such as:
Destination
Operator(s)
Ajaccio, Corsica
Frantour/VT Vacances
Alicante, Spain
Marti Voyages
Antalya, Turkey
HotelPlan/Kuoni
Brindisi, Italy
Geo-Decouvert
Calvi, Italy
VT Vacances
Catania, Italy
Geo-Decouvert
Corfu, Greece
Kuoni
Cos, Greece
HotelPlan/Kuoni/Club Med
Eilat, Israel
Tourorient
Faro, Portugal
Falcon/Kuoni/Club Med
Figaro, Corsica
Univair/VT Vacances
Heraklion, Greece
HotelPlan/Kuoni/ITV
Ibiza, Spain
HotelPlan/Kuoni/Club Med/VT Vacances/Univair/ITV
Lanzarote, Canary Is.
HotelPlan/Kuoni/VT Vacances
Las Palmas, Canary Is.
HotelPlan/Kuoni/Alsa/VT Vacances/Intra Avion/ITV
Mahon, Spain
VT Vacances/ITV/Must Air Marin
Monastair, Tunisia
HotelPlan/Kuoni/VT Vacances/Univair
Palma, Majorca
HotelPlan/Kuoni/Club Med/Universal/Univair/ITV/Alsa/Intra Avion
Reykjavik, Iceland
Nordik Voyages/Scanditours
Tenerife, Canary Is.
HotelPlan/Kuoni
Zante, Greece
Kuoni
Geneva International Airport is working to make itself as accessible and attractive as possible. As a promotional action to attract travelers from the Swiss cantons of Bern, Fribourg, Jura, Neuchatel, Soleure, and Valais, the airport is distributing to such passengers a small booklet containing a package of special offers. Called "Avantages 1999", it is valid until 31 January 2000. The booklet also contains an entry form for a competition to win an Air France ticket to Atlanta, Boston or Cincinnati in the United States. (For a passenger to be able to take advantage of the booklet, the travel agent from whom one's ticket was purchased must fill in and stamp the back page of the booklet.)
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