GENEVA TODAY (FRIDAY) UNVEILS EUROPE'S MOST UP-TO-DATE AIRPORT, WITH A HANDLING CAPACITY OF SOME FIVE MILLION PASSENGERS EACH YEAR. THE NEW COMPLEX REPLACES A STRUCTURE NOW ALMOST 20 YEARS OLD.

THE NEW GENEVA AIRPORT BOASTS AT LEAST TWO EUROPEAN FIRSTS--SATELLITE DOMES AWAY FROM THE MAIN BUILDINGS, FOR LOADING AND UNLOADING PASSENGERS. AND A TWO-TIER ARRIVAL DEPARTURE BAY.

THE THREE SATELLITE DOMES ARE LINKED BY UNDERGROUND MOVING PAVEMENTS TO THE MAIN BUILDING. ENGINEERS HAVE ALREADY PLANNED A FOURTH, LARGER DOME TO COPE WITH JUMBO JETS.

THE NEW AIRPORT IS MADE ALMOST ENTIRELY OF ALUMINIUM, CONCRETE AND GLASS. THE WHOLE COMPLEX GLOWS A DULL RED DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS, BECAUSE THE GLASS IS SPECIALLY TREATED TO REFLECT INFRA-RED LIGHT.

EACH SATELLITE CAN HANDLE FOUR AIRCRAFT AT ANY TIME, AND SHELTER 800 PASSENGERS WITHOUT TRANSHIPMENT DELAY.

THE NEW COMPLEX WILL START FULL OPERATIONS NEXT MONTH. TOTAL COST WAS 170 MILLION SWISS FRANCS (17 MILLION STERLING).