This is an interesting little airport that is more convenient to certain regions of Switzerland…read morethan the airports in Zurich or Geneva. This facility serviced around 271,000 passengers in 2014 making it the fourth busiest in Switzerland. The traffic level was just over 1% of the level experienced by Zurich airport, the busiest in the country, the same year. When I recently used this airport, I had business in Visp and this was quite a bit closer compared to the larger options.
I like smaller airports as they are much easier to navigate than their larger counterparts. This is one of the smallest I have used. There is not much to the facility as there are only a couple of airlines that are present. The waiting areas are small as is the bag claim. There is a limited eatery at the far end of the building that is convenient for a coffee or a light bite.
As an originating airport, the approach and access are facile. The drop off area is small but adequate which can also be said of the parking. The check-in and security areas are user-friendly. As a terminating airport, the same advantages of a small airport come into play. The bag claim area functions well and the curbside pickup is easy to navigate. There is also a bus that takes passengers to and from Bern Train Station.
The disadvantages of small airports often times come into play, however. In the big picture, airports such as these do not have frequent flights and are very limited on the number of destinations. But there are more specific issues as well. On my arrival from Munich, I needed a carnet stamped for a piece of equipment I was carrying. Getting the carnet stamped was the reason I flew instead of taking a train or driving. Unfortunately, the Customs people, who were supposed to be there until 9 PM (it was about 7:15 PM when I arrived), were arbitrarily gone for the day putting me in a bit of a dilemma.
Overall, this airport has advantages in some situations. The best aspects are that it is very user-friendly and easy to navigate. The location is also good for many destinations in Switzerland. The downside is the limited services available. However, if the situation presents itself as favorable, I would certainly consider using this airport again.