On 11 October, the Geneva Grand Council voted a law establishing an airfield 4 km north of the city, near the village of Cointrin.
Our hundred‑year history
In just 100 years, our grass‑runway ‘airfield’ will grow into a major player for Switzerland and for international Geneva.
1919
Creation of an airfield
1920
Construction of the grass track
The grass runway hosted flights mainly during the daytime. That same year, the League of Nations (LoN) settled in Geneva. This event was decisive for our development.
1930
Arrival of the Zeppelin airship
30,000 spectators came to admire the arrival of the gigantic German Graf Zeppelin on the tarmac.
1932
First Geneva-Paris flights
Air Union opened the first non-stop route between Paris and Geneva, which it operated three times a week until 1935.
1937
First concrete runway
Aviation companies developed in the 1930s. It is time to concrete the runway, to light it, to improve the remote guidance of the aircraft. During the Second World War, the runway was extended.
1947
Geneva New York Connection
Commander Walter Borner completed the first Geneva–New York–Geneva flight using a Swissair four‑engine DC‑4. This route became known as the UN shuttle.
1948
First control tower
This control tower is now called the ‘Tintin Tower’ because it appears in the famous Calculus Affair album.
1955
Eisenhower on the tarmac
In the midst of the Cold War, the American president landed on the tarmac to take part in an international conference with representatives from the United Kingdom, France, and Italy. This meeting further strengthened Geneva’s reputation as a global diplomatic center.
1966
Satellite construction
Three satellites, dedicated to passenger boarding and disembarking, were installed on the tarmac. Each one offers four aircraft stands.
1968
Construction of the new terminal building
The milestone of 2 million passengers has been reached.
1970
1st Boeing 747 in Geneva
The first Boeing 747 landed on the runway. The ‘Jumbo’ is probably one of the most popular aircraft of its generation until the arrival of the A380.
1985
Reagan and Gorbachev on the tarmac
The Reagan–Gorbachev diplomatic summit brought together the two Cold War rivals for the first time. It marked a key step in the warming of relations between the United States and Russia.
1999
easyJet sets up shop in Geneva
After Swissair discontinued its long‑haul flights from Geneva in 1996, easyJet was welcomed to the airport.
2010
A380 Tour
Thousands of curious people came to admire the world's largest aircraft with a capacity of 853 seats. This exceptional visit allows you to obtain certification to accomodate the A380, only in case of emergency.
2021
Commissioning of the East Wing and the Panorama Terrace
The East Wing, dedicated to intercontinental flights, was inaugurated after ten years of construction. The same year, the Panorama Terrace was opened to the public. It offers a direct view of the tarmac