Planespotting Geneva — LSGG
Geneva handles one of the highest volumes of business and government aviation in Europe, all on a single 3,900 m runway, 04/22, squeezed between the city and the French border. The UN's European headquarters, dozens of international organisations, private banks and summit diplomacy bring a daily stream of Gulf state VIP aircraft, Boeing Business Jets, Globals and Gulfstreams, while easyJet and Swiss supply the bread-and-butter airline traffic. Winter adds ski charters at weekends, when the separate Terminal 2 opens for the season. South-westerly winds usually put arrivals onto 22 over Bellevue and the lake side; when the cold north-easterly Bise sets in, traffic turns around onto 04, approaching over Meyrin with the Jura behind it. Because everything uses one runway, a single well-chosen spot catches nearly every movement, and most spots are a short TPG bus ride from the terminal.
- AFR87QN BCS3 37 000 ft
- THY2RU A21N 17 575 ft
- PTN53D PC24 8 225 ft
- IBE06WW A320 8 100 ft
- EZS57XL A320 3 450 ft RWY 04
- GCK29 CL35 2 800 ft RWY 04
- PEA301 E55P 1 550 ft RWY 04
- JFA53Q PC24
Conditions right now
Runways
- 04/22 RWY 04 3,902 × 54 m · 12,802 × 177 ft concrete
- 04L/22R 823 × 29 m · 2,700 × 95 ft grass closed
Ask the sky
What flew over this morning? Where was that loud one heading? Ask in plain words — the answer comes from real recorded traffic.
Airport profile
Typical traffic by hour
Relative intensity by local hour — a typical day, not live data.Peak: 09:00
Typical traffic mix
- Narrowbody55%
- Bizjet30%
- Widebody6%
- Turboprop5%
- GA4%
Spotter score
Our editorial rating (0–100).Best time of year
When the interesting traffic peaks.Where to spot
Terrasse Panorama, Terminal 1
The airport's public rooftop terrace overlooks the main apron and the whole runway with the Jura ridge behind it. You can shoot both directions without a fence, and a snack bar and benches make it the easiest place to log the bizjet comings and goings.
- Getting there
- Main building T1: take the lift from the arrivals level to the 4th floor. Landside, no security check, free. Seasonal: in 2026 open from mid-March to the end of October, with winter weekends only. It closes for major events (for example during the G7 in June 2026), so check gva.ch before you go.
- Best time
- All day for the apron. Heat haze over the runway is strong on summer afternoons.
- Lens
- 18–400 mm.
Chemin des Clys, Bellevue — runway 22 arrivals
Under the approach to 22 on the north-eastern side, near the localiser. This is the classic place for arrivals in the usual south-westerly flow, and you pass the remote business-jet stands on the way.
- Getting there
- TPG bus 50 towards Versoix to the Chemin des Clys stop, about 10 minutes from the airport. By car take the motorway exit Grand-Saconnex, follow signs to France, turn right after the bridge past the P48 apron and continue to Chemin des Clys.
- Best time
- Morning landings on 22, from sunrise (about 06:30 in summer, 08:30 in winter) to around 14:00.
- Lens
- 75–270 mm (75 mm for an A340, 110 mm for an A320).
Grand-Saconnex Tunnel Routier and the P48 bizjet apron
Near the road tunnel on the north side you can shoot 22 arrivals and departures and aircraft taxiing to the 22 threshold. Right next to it, the remote P48 apron takes everything from Citations to BBJs and the occasional 747-8 or A380 VIP jet. A tall wall now surrounds it, so you need a large ladder for parked aircraft.
- Getting there
- TPG bus Y towards Ferney-Voltaire to Grand-Saconnex, Tunnel Routier (about 7 minutes); bus 28 also stops nearby. Parking is awkward — check the map before you drive.
- Best time
- Runway 22 operations, sunrise to about 14:00. On P48, aircraft park nose towards the Jura, so the morning light falls best on them.
- Lens
- 75–450 mm on the runway; 18–200 mm for the apron.
Blandonnet footpath by TAG Aviation — runway 04 arrivals
A footpath at the south-western end leads to the fence by the 04 threshold. Arrivals in Bise conditions come in with the Jura behind them — the signature Geneva shot, especially with snow in winter. Through the fence you also get 04 departures and taxiing traffic.
- Getting there
- TPG bus 23, 28, 57 or Y to Blandonnet (about 4 minutes), cross the road and take the stairs. By car exit at Meyrin, turn off at the TAG Aviation sign and use the roadside spaces or the Coop car park. The TAG Aviation car park is private.
- Best time
- Runway 04 arrivals from early morning; in summer heat haze ruins it after about 10:00.
- Lens
- 95–340 mm.
Runway 04 line-up viewpoint, Meyrin side
About 200 m along the lane from the TAG Aviation car park, an open view over the airfield for aircraft lining up and departing on 04, with close arrivals too. Trees have grown and hide some arrivals, but line-ups are still clear.
- Getting there
- Walk on from the Blandonnet/TAG parking area. A petrol station about five minutes north has drinks.
- Best time
- 14:00–17:00, when the sun is along the axis of aircraft on the runway.
- Lens
- 55–140 mm.
Chemin de Colovrex — runway 22, evening
Fields near the Ferney-Voltaire border crossing at the north-eastern end of the airport, with landings and departures on 22. It is the evening alternative to Chemin des Clys, when the sun has moved round to the west.
- Getting there
- Follow the road towards Ferney, then take the first right onto Chemin de Colovrex and park at the Lidl. On foot, it's about 20 minutes from the Douane bus stop.
- Best time
- Summer 17:00 to sunset, winter 14:00–17:00.
- Lens
- 70–240 mm.
Respect private property, signage and the airport security perimeter. Spotterra predicts the active runway from live weather on the dashboard.
What you'll see
easyJet carries almost half of Geneva's passengers, followed by Swiss and British Airways. Long-haul and Middle East flights include Emirates 777s twice daily, Qatar and Ethiopian A350s, Etihad 787s, Air China A350s, Kuwait, Saudia, Turkish, United 767s and Air Canada, plus seasonal Delta and winter Air Mauritius. Business aviation never stops: Globals, Gulfstreams and Falcons are daily, along with Gulf government 747s, 787s and A340s. EBACE at Palexpo brings a static display of new bizjets. Winter Saturdays add ski charters.
What actually flew over Geneva in the last 30 days
Measured from our own ADS-B data — not a schedule, but what really passed overhead.
- A320 32.1 %
- A20N 17.4 %
- BCS3 13.2 %
- B738 12.8 %
- A319 7.9 %
- PC12 6.8 %
- B38M 4.9 %
- A21N 4.9 %
FAQ
What's that plane over Geneva?
Spotterra's live map shows every ADS-B-equipped aircraft around Geneva in real time with type and registration — the quickest way to tell whether the jet turning final over the lake is a Global Express or a Gulf state 747.
Is the Geneva panorama terrace open?
It's seasonal. In 2026 it opened daily from mid-March to the end of October, with weekend-only opening in winter, and it closes during major events. It is landside and free — check gva.ch for the current schedule.
Which runway does Geneva use?
There's only one: 04/22. South-westerly winds mean arrivals on 22 over the Bellevue side; Bise from the north-east turns everything onto 04, approaching over Meyrin with the Jura as a backdrop. Spotterra estimates the direction from the live METAR.
When is the best time for bizjets at GVA?
Any weekday, with peaks around big conferences and diplomatic meetings at the UN, and during EBACE. Winter weekends also bring ski-season private jets.
Spotterra watches the sky over Geneva
A live ADS-B map of your area and smart alerts on military transports, warbirds and rare types — with 10–30 minutes lead on long-haul arrivals. Free forever, no card.
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