Switzerland sits at the heart of the Alps, and its two biggest airports — Zurich and Geneva — are perfect starting points for mountain getaways. By car or train, many Alpine resorts are several hours away. By private jet, some are reachable in under an hour, landing at small mountain airports that scheduled airlines never use.
Here are five escapes worth considering this winter, plus a few tips on how to make them more affordable.
1. Zurich → Samedan for St. Moritz
Samedan, in the Engadin valley, is one of the highest airports in Europe, at around 1,700 metres. From the runway, St. Moritz is only a short drive away. It is the classic choice for winter sports, frozen-lake events and après-ski with a view.
Best for: skiing, glamorous winter weekends.
2. Geneva → Sion for Verbier and Crans-Montana
Sion sits in the Rhône valley in the canton of Valais. It is the quickest way to reach Verbier and Crans-Montana without the long drive along the lake.
Best for: serious skiers and families.
3. Geneva → Chambéry for the French Alps
Chambéry is the gateway to the Three Valleys — Courchevel, Méribel and Val Thorens. During the French winter season it becomes one of the busiest small airports in the Alps.
Best for: big ski areas and luxury chalets.
4. Zurich → Innsbruck for Tyrol
Innsbruck combines a historic old town with ski areas right on its doorstep. The approach through the Inn valley is famously demanding, and crews need special training to fly it — part of the adventure.
Best for: a mix of culture and skiing.
5. Zurich → Bolzano for the Dolomites
Bolzano opens up the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with Val Gardena and Alta Badia close by. It is a lovely choice in both winter and summer.
Best for: dramatic scenery and Italian food.
At a glance
| Escape | From | Airport | Resorts |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Moritz | Zurich | Samedan | St. Moritz, Engadin |
| Verbier | Geneva | Sion | Verbier, Crans-Montana |
| Three Valleys | Geneva | Chambéry | Courchevel, Méribel |
| Tyrol | Zurich | Innsbruck | Innsbruck, Arlberg |
| Dolomites | Zurich | Bolzano | Val Gardena, Alta Badia |
How to make it more affordable
Private jets often fly empty legs — flights without passengers, for example returning to Zurich or Geneva after dropping skiers in the mountains. Operators sell these flights for noticeably less than a full charter.
- Be flexible: empty legs follow the operator’s schedule, not yours.
- Book one way: they are usually single journeys.
- Look at seats: some empty legs sell individual seats, others the whole aircraft.
- Move fast: popular winter routes go quickly.
You can see current private jet options from Zurich, including live empty legs, to plan your Alpine weekend.
Our verdict: why RentJet.eu stands out
Among the services we looked at, RentJet is one of the most technologically advanced. Its European platform is available in six languages, shows prices in euros and is growing quickly. The highlight is smart empty leg tracking: a free Telegram assistant, Empty Legs Radar, watches flights around the clock and sends an alert as soon as a matching route appears — filtered by dates and by whether you want a seat or the whole aircraft. Prices come only from real operator offers, and route pages show recent prices for similar flights.
Travellers rate it highly as well: reviews praise the attentive service, the quality of the flights and the comfort on board, with an average score of 4.8 out of 5. A smart choice for anyone dreaming of the Alps by private jet.
Image: Unsplash, Christophe Meyer
