GVANEWS SPRING 2017 - No.67
Fly airBaltic to Riga
Fly Geneva to Riga on an airBaltic 144-seat Boeing 737-300 starting this summer. As of 4 May 2017, the Latvian carrier will operate direct flights between the two cities on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. The aircraft leaves Riga at 7:55, landing in Geneva at 9:45. It takes off on the return flight at 10:40, landing in Latvia at 14:20 local time (one hour difference). Home to approximately 650,000 inhabitants, Riga is the capital of Latvia and the biggest urban centre in the Baltic countries. Despite its size, it has retained a decidedly human feel, and hosts a wealth of monuments and a downtown area that is easily visited on foot. Major attractions include the castle, which was initially a fortress built in the thirteenth century, the cathedral and numerous Orthodox and Protestant churches. Riga is also the northern capital of art nouveau, typified by the composition of certain building facades and in furniture design. There’s even an art nouveau museum in the one-time home of a well-known Latvian architect. The entire historical city centre, with its medieval structures and traditional nineteenth-century wood buildings, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The direct flights afford travellers easy access to Riga for a short city-break and rapid onward connections to the other Baltic countries. Latvia is ideally situated between Estonia and Lithuania, and there’s really no place that’s very far to travel. In fact, there’s no longer any excuse for not doing the classic week-long tour of the three Baltic capitals. In addition to launching the Geneva-Riga route, airBaltic continues to expand in Europe, inaugurating seven new destinations. The carrier currently flies to over 60 destinations; it offers excellent connections via Riga to its network in Europe, Scandinavia, the CIS countries and the Middle East. Its fleet comprises 24 Boeing 737 and Q400 Next Gen aircraft. It’s starting to introduce the brand new C-series 300, which will gradually replace the Boeings.
Information and reservations : www.airbaltic.com Tourist office : www.latvia.travel
easyJet adds 3 destinations
AIRLINES
easyJet continues to expand its network from Geneva, adding :
Geneva – Las Palmas with Vueling Vueling announces the launch of summer flights to Las Palmas. A Vueling A320 will fly the return route once a week (Thursday) starting on 6 July. Schedule : GVA 12:55 - LPA 16:15 LPA 7:15 - GVA 12:15 Information and reservations : www.vueling.com
5 summer destinations with Etihad Regional
The company spotlights five summer destinations from Geneva: Brest, new this summer! (July – September), Biarritz (April – October), Ibiza (service year round, with additional flights scheduled from late March to the end of October 2017), Olbia (June – September) and Cagliari (June to 21 September). Information and reservations : www.etihadregional.com
Qatar Airways: the A350-900XWB replaces the Boeing 787-8
Qatar Airways will be the first airline to fly into and out of Switzerland with the new Airbus A350. Starting on 1 June 2017, the A350-900XWB will replace the current Boeing 787-8 on daily flights to Doha from Geneva. The A350 is already being used for flights to and from the German airports of Frankfort and Munich. Lufthansa will use it for its long-haul flights from Munich. Information : Qatar Airways, www.qatarairways.com
• 2 new Mediterranean destinations: Marseille as of 4 April, up to 3x a week (Tues., Wed., Sat.), year round; and Calvi, as of 28 June, up to 2x a week (Thurs., Sat.). This is easyJet’s fourth summer destination in Corsica. Flights are scheduled until 2 September 2017. • 1 new destination on the Adriatic: Tivat in Montenegro, 1x per week (Sat.) from 1 July to 2 September. easyJet flies to 78 destinations in all from Geneva. Information and reservations : www.easyjet.com
New !
Air France celebrates 80 years in Geneva
Flights to Brest on Thursdays and Sundays
This year Air France will celebrate the 80th anniversary of its Paris – Geneva route. For a more detailed look at the past, go to the Saga d’Air France website, www.airfrancelasaga.com, where you’ll also find loads of information on the development of the Genève – Paris-Charles de Gaulle route!
Edinburgh by charter!
Embark on Kontiki’s direct and exclusive flight from Geneva to Edinburgh! Return flights every Saturday from 8 July to 19 August 2017 on a British Airways 76-seat Embraer E170. Schedule: GVA 15:20 – EDI 16:45 EDI 11:15 – GVA 14:30 Information and reservations : Kontiki Voyages, www.kontiki.ch
PROMOTION
Envol 2017
Travelling from : Geneva To : Someplace else What would you say to an entire Sunday spent discovering, at no cost, everything new the world of travel has to offer you ? Envol is a day-long travel fair that offers you a unique opportunity to explore other horizons. It features new destinations, new arrangements, new technologies.
SWISS welcomes the canton of Vaud onboard
New communication campaign: Restaurants
A new communication campaign was launched at the end of February, in collaboration with the advertising agency M&C Saatchi. The new campaign features passengers and uses quirky and imaginative visuals that will catch you smiling in surprise. It highlights Genève Aéroport’s gastronomic diversity while spotlighting some of its flagship destinations. The Restaurants at Genève Aéroport – the first leg of your journey !
Airlines, tour operators, tourist offices, language-stay specialists: over 30 exhibitors will be there to greet you at the Genève-Aéroport train station from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (sunday 9 April 2017) and transport you someplace else.
Sustainable development report 2016
As of early March, SWISS will delight passengers with exquisite culinary specialties from the canton of Vaud. As part of its award-winning SWISS Taste of Switzerland programme, the carrier will serve menus created by the Grand Hôtel du Lac Vevey. From 29 March to 11 April, it will also offer a mid-air presentation of the Cully Jazz Festival, for its SWISS Traditions. Information: www.swiss.com The 2017 edition of Envol was redesigned to be even more fun and interactive. Try out the new checkin terminals and the technological innovations you’ll take along on tomorrow’s journeys. Stop and be entertained as you walk from stand to stand. Win a flight on airBaltic to discover Riga and Latvia. From Morocco to China, via Latvia or Australia… Envol takes you on a reconnaissance flight before your next vacation.
The 2016 edition of Genève Aéroport’s sustainable development report has come out ! Read about the airport’s social and environmental activities and get the key figures at www.gva.ch/publications. And don’t hesitate to send us your views : developpement.durable@ gva.ch
The new-look e-services !
The new e-services platform has a new look and new functionalities! Book a parking space (ResaPark), save time at security (Priority Lane), or book a package (Package), directly on www. gva.ch/eservices.
NEWS GVA SPONSORSHIP Check-in zone transformation
Started in June 2016, the first phase of Genève Aéroport’s check-in zone expansion is now complete. Ultimately, the front wall of the terminal building will be advanced by several metres, adding 1,000 square metres more space to the hall.
Stay connected at Genève Aéroport!
About 15 business corners – with high stools and tables with USB + standard 220V outlets – are available near the gates. This service is in addition to the free Wi-Fi available throughout the airport.
Travel photo competition
Genève Aéroport has renewed its association with the travel photo competition organized by the Tigre Vanillé travel agency. The photos will first be exhibited at the Geneva Book and Press Fair (Palexpo, 26-30 April) and later in the Genève Aéroport train station. The theme for 2017 : food for the body, food for the soul. www.photographe-voyageur.com
The lifts, escalators and staircases have been completely renovated and can once again be used to go from the Arrivals to the Departures level. On the Departures level, the Food Court washrooms have also been given a facelift, for optimal comfort. The nearby shops have re-opened. Some of the past access points to the terminal building remain changed. Alternate routes have been signposted.
EVENTS
Genève Aéroport deployed its new visual at major public events within its various catchment areas :
How you access the airport depends on the mode of transport you chose to get there (train, bus or car). All routes are described on videos that can be viewed at any time.
Genève Aéroport 20km : a first!
Regularly updated information will be provided on subsequent stages of the renovations at www.gva.ch/ aeroportenmouvement
DIARY DATES
Ferien : 12-15 January in Bern
Registration and information : not available at the time of printing
Find your favourite airport at IAWA Geneva : 4 April 2017, 6.30 p.m., Brasserie des Halles de l’Ile IAWA Lausanne : 18 May 2017, 6.30 p.m., Bulldog Bar, Flon Third STMF Geneva : 13 June 2017 at the Warwick Hotel
Genève Aéroport is a partner of the new 20-km race that will be run on 29 October 2017 in Geneva. Get ready to test your mettle! From the starting line at the Quai du Mont Blanc, the route will take the participants through the airport’s neighbouring municipalities (Pregny-Chambésy, Grand-Saconnex, Bellevue, Genthod, Versoix, Collex-Bossy) and back.
Mahana : 10-12 February in Lyon
TTW Romandie : 20-21 September 2017 at the Mövenpick Hotel Lausanne
Genève Aéroport • Marketing & Business Development • Case postale 100 • CH-1215 Genève 15 • gva.ch Photo credit : Genève Aéroport, SWISS, Kontiki, Fotolia Printed on Cyclus Print 100% recycled paper