Geneva airport flies in face of aviation crisis
Geneva airport has ridden out the recent turbulences in the air transport industry by making a profit of SFr25.7 million ($20 million) in 2002.
The number of passengers using the airport rose by one per cent to 7.6 million, thanks mainly to business generated by the low-cost carrier, easyJet.
At a news conference on Tuesday, Geneva airport's director general, Jean-Pierre Jobin, pointed out that passenger figures were down by 14.6 per cent last year at Zurich airport and by 13.5 per cent in Basel.
easyJet, which has increased its market share in Geneva to 22 per cent, compared with Swiss's 24 per cent, could this year become the main airline using the airport.
The airport authorities said that the SFr19 tax per passenger was one of the lowest among European airports and had contributed to making Geneva a competitive destination.
They added that the airport was in a healthy financial state and two new departure lounges would be opened as planned on June 30.
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