GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – The federal government Wednesday 8 May opened its public hearing into Geneva airport‘s plans to extend the east wing of the airport, which Bern calls “very important” for the future of Geneva’s international airport. It will affect mainly long-haul large planes.
The airport was the scene Tuesday of the inauguration of the new Air China direct link between Geneva and Beijing, with the first scheduled Airbus A 330-200 arriving from China at 18:35.
The Civil Aviation Office, Ofac, says the east wing extension plans may be consulted in Geneva or Bern and any opposition to the plans must be filed by 6 June.
The new terminal will be 520 metres long and 20 wide, with new departures lounges that would replace the temporary ones now in use for large planes. Building is slated to begin in early 2014, although the federal government’s transport and energy department has one year to approve the plans. Construction will last three and a half years, with the option for two phases for putting the terminal into use.
Ofac notes that the replacement terminal will not provide any additional space for large planes. It cites several improvements: greater comfort for passengers and staff, improved energy use by the airport and it will bring the airport into line with international civil aviation standards.