Strana 26
24 | POSITIV 2017/2018
The Leoš Janáček Ostrava Airport, like it
or not, remained, until recently, a regional
airport located here in the steel heart of
Europe. This is where the interesting
potential lies, according to the airport’s
owner and management.
“The Ostrava Airport runway, at three
thousand and five meters long and sixty-
three meters wide, is definitely the largest
runway in the Czech Republic. That is our
advantage,“ says Jaromír Radkovsky, the
managing director of the Ostrava Airport.
The runway potential logically invites to
use the airport for freight transport. Large
cargo aircraft needs space that Ostrava
can provide.
Recent the owner, the Moravian-Silesian
Region – has invested, through European
programmes, in airport equipment and
infrastructure. The taxiways were exten-
ded, a new Fire Rescue Service Station was
built, and the railway was brought to the
airport. Connecting to the local transport
infrastructure is important for the airport to
function as a logistics centre.
“The development of air freight transport
is one of the priorities. In the case that we
develop the transport of aviation goods,
we have a better chance of bringing to the
airport new carriers with new airlines. In
recent years, we have invested in airport
innovation and development, so now we
will focus on using these investments,”
added Mr. Radkovsky.
The Ostrava Airport is strategically locat-
ed between the D47 motorway and R48
expressway, two major backbones of tran-
sit that run from north to south and east to
west. The region’s industry is also power-
fully developing, attracting new investors.
All this is the potential for successful cargo
development.
The owner and the airport management
are united. Large aircraft is an important
element for economic stability.
The development of passenger airlines is
not being set aside but those who create
the need for aviation are companies, cities
and resort destinations. Currently, both
low-cost and classic airlines operate side
by side, and each model seems to find their
customers. From Ostrava airport, locals
can fly to Milan, London, and Dubai, plus
about twenty other summer destinations;
additionally, with a transfer in Prague, they
can fly almost anywhere in the world.
The number of passengers who used the
services of the Ostrava airport in 2017 in-
creased by 29%. By the end of October,
over 300,000 passengers were transported.
Another area of development attractive
to the airport is private clientele. A private
airplane is a jet or turbo-prop, comfor-
tably equipped, allowing flights even in un-
favorable weather conditions and at night.
In the Czech Republic alone, dozens of
active private airplanes are registered. The
number of private planes, of course, is
much greater but they are mostly smaller
sports models.
The clientele who use this service is slow-
ly growing. For this style of travel and
transport, easy access to the airport and
minimum wait-time required for check-in
are important. That means no waiting at
the airport, no queues, and a time of de-
parture determined by the client. In this
case, it is true that time is money.
BUSINESS