Top Access to Ski Resorts

With the opening of ski resorts, IBC Aviation takes a look at the airports and helipads used to access French and Swiss resorts.   

FRANCE:

Annecy: Ideally located at the foot of the French Alps, the access is limited due to its short runway. Crew must be certified to operate at night and with low visibility, due to its terrain.

Ski Resorts: Chamonix, Megeve

Chambery: Chambery is a popular airport thanks to its proximity with French ski resorts. Busy during winter season, the airport regulates traffic with take-off and landing slots. As Annecy, crew must be certified to operate on this airport at night or with low visibility. 

Ski Resorts: Courchevel, Méribel, Val Thorens, Val d’Isère, Tignes 

Grenoble: Grenoble is a good alternate to Chambery in case of rerouting. The airport is not subject to particular restrictions. 

Ski Resorts: Courchevel, Méribel, Val Thorens, Val d’Isère, Tignes 

Lyon Bron: The airport is not subject to particular restrictions. Night operations require an extension. 

Ski Resorts: Courchevel, Méribel, Val Thorens, Val d’Isère, Tignes 

Courchevel Altiport: At 2007 meter high, the Courchevel 1850 mountain airfield is the highest one in Europe. The runway is 537-meter long with an 18.5% incline. The airport welcomes 5'400 aircraft movement during winter and remains to this day the only shoveled mountain airfield during the winter season. For commercial flight, Courchevel altiport is quite restrictive and can mostly be accessed via helicopter. 

SWITZERLAND:

Geneva: Located approximately 20 minutes north of the city center, the Geneva Business Aviation Airport is open from 6:00 AM to 11:59 PM every day. After Paris, Geneva is the second major platform for private jets with 35'000 yearly movements. 

With only one runway, Geneva airport is subject to slots for take-off and landing. Passengers are invited to contact their IBC Aviation representative to communicate their wished departure and arrival time. 

Ski Resorts: Chamonix, Megève, Courchevel, Méribel, Val Thorens, Val d’Isère, Tignes, Zermatt, Verbier, Crans-Montana, Saint-Moritz, Gstaad 

Sion:  Sion’s airport is located 80 kilometers away from Zermatt and can be reached with a 1 hour and 15-minute car ride or a 15-minute helicopter ride. The airport is subject to several restrictions such as weather conditions, and crew qualifications. As an alternate, private jet can land at Geneva’s airport and enjoy a 45-minute helicopter transfer to Zermatt. 

Ski resorts: Zermatt, Verbier, Crans-Montana 

Samedan: Samedan’s airport is located 8 kilometers away from St-Moritz can welcome private jets and allow passengers to reach St-moritz’s downtown in ten minutes. St-Moritz is a very popular ski resort and the airport manages slots for take-off and landing. As Sion’s airport, with low visibility and/or at night, Samedan can only be accessed with a certified crew.

Ski resort: Saint-Moritz 

Gstaad/Saanen: For commercial flight, the airport is limitative. Its short runway only allows certain aircraft to operate on this terrain. As a visual flight rule airport and surrounded by mountains, crew must obtain certification to operate by low visibility or by night in Saanen. 

Ski Resort: Gstaad 

Helipads: 

• Courchevel
• Megève
• Méribel 
• Gstaad
• Zermatt
• St-Moritz
• Val d’Isère 
• Tignes
• Chamonix
• Verbier