Stung by Swissair's withdrawal of most longhaul flights, Geneva airport is fighting to attract replacement traffic by cutting landing fees and offering fifth freedom traffic rights, and says several Geneva-based startup carriers are in the planning stage.
The airport will cut all landing fees by 10 per cent from 1 January, and any airline opening a new scheduled destination will pay no landing fees for the first season and only 50 per cent of the fee for the second. These measures are being paid for by removing the subsidies on domestic flights, which currently attract a 50 per cent landing fee discount and a 19 per cent rebate on passenger charges.
Geneva has also persuaded the Swiss federal government to grant fifth freedom rights out of Geneva, although full fifth freedoms will only be granted to new destinations. Gulf Air is the first carrier to take advantage, with three weekly A340 flights from Abu Dhabi and Bahrain to Geneva, continuing to New York. Because Swissair still flies to New York, Gulf Air cannot carry local Geneva-New York passengers, but it can carry New York bound passengers transferring from other international points. Airport director Jean-Pierre Jobin says Miami and Montreal are among other longhaul destinations being discussed.
But other European carriers are trying to pull more of that longhaul traffic over to their hubs: Air France, British Airways and Lufthansa have increased their Geneva frequencies. EasyJet and Virgin Express want to serve Geneva, but only if the Swiss authorities allow them to offer low fares. Air Engiadina has launched Dornier 328 flights to Dublin and Genoa.
Richard Whitaker
Source: Airline Business
