Genève Aéroport returns to 2019 passenger levels with fewer flights


16.01.2025

Over the whole of 2024, Genève Aéroport welcomed 17,796,333 passengers. Compared with 2019, the year before Covid, the number of passengers was down by 0.73% and the number of aircraft movements down by 3.73%. As a reminder, Genève Aéroport welcomed 17,926,625 passengers and 186,043 movements in 2019. Confirming our forecasts, the overall level of passenger traffic for 2019 will be exceeded in 2025, thus attesting to the end of the post-Covid sequence.
 
In 2024, Genève Aéroport handled 17,796,333 passengers*, up 7.97% compared to 2023. Total landings and take-offs amounted to 179,106 movements, 3.62% more than in 2023. Last year, the increase in the number of passengers was significantly higher than the increase in the number of movements. This is explained by use of larger aircraft, a higher load factor and Genève Aéroport’s financial policy encouraging airlines to increase the occupancy rate per aircraft.
 
Latest-generation aircraft: the success of an incentive policy
For several years now, Genève Aéroport has been offering financial incentives to encourage airlines to use the latest-generation aircraft, thereby helping to limit noise emissions. These aircraft, which are quieter and consume less paraffin, accounted for 31.85% of scheduled and charter aircraft movements in 2024 (32.53% in 2023). This proportion of latest-generation aircraft has risen by 208.1% since 2017.
Another point to note: in 2024, there were 9,879 movements between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. in all categories, including medical flights, i.e. 5.52% of flights (5.56% of flights in 2023 and 5.68% in 2022).
 
First effects of the new noise quota system
With a view to reducing the number of night flights, and in particular late take-offs after 10pm, Genève Aéroport has introduced a system of dissuasive charges which came into force on 1st January 2025.
Discussed with all the airlines involved in evening flights, this program was presented and already tested in 2024. The results: many airlines have adjusted their flight times between 8pm and 10pm, and modified their rotations and flight plans to reduce the number of late take-offs. With very tangible results. The number of take-offs after 10pm is down by 36.16% compared with 2023.
The dissuasive fee for the new noise quota system is between 5,000 and 20,000 francs for European flights and between 10,000 and 40,000 francs for intercontinental flights.
 
Service to Genève Aéroport, which will have 148 destinations in 2023, remains stable with 146 destinations in 2024
 
The market shares of the top ten airlines over the past year were as follows: easyJet (46.9%), SWISS (12.4%), British Airways (4.5%), Air France (3.2%), Iberia (2.9%), KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (2.4%), TAP Portugal (1.9%), Emirates (1.8%), Turkish Airlines (1.8%) and Air Dolomiti/Lufthansa (1.6%).
 
Freight: an exceptional year
The year 2024 saw a strong recovery in air freight. Despite an economic climate impacted by geopolitical tensions in several parts of the world, the annual tonnage of freight handled at Genève Aéroport rose to 90,705 tonnes, compared with 63,951 tonnes in 2023, an increase of 41.8%. This volume of freight is the second highest in the airport's history. To varying degrees, the import and export of goods and the growth in e-commerce have contributed to this result. Including postal freight, a total of 92,625 tonnes were handled in Geneva.
 
The 2024 annual report, financial statements and sustainability report will be made public on 25 March 2025.
 
 
* Based on data at 15 January 2025.