VOP → OSR Z vojenského podniku na ostravskou runway
66 ǀ POSITIV MAN 2026
The airport is clearly growing today. What
is driving that growth?
It is undoubtedly the result of a long-term strategy. Every
step is backed by detailed market analysis and long-
term negotiations with partners in both the aviation
and non-aviation sectors.
In recent years, we have managed to move the airport
forward significantly – in passenger transport, we
surpassed the half-a-million passenger mark, while
also continuing to expand the cargo segment. We
are gradually gaining new partners and strengthening
our position. It is not about one-off decisions,
but systematic work that delivers results.
How do you run an airport?
In many respects, managing an airport is similar
to leading any other large organisation. Experience
from an environment where business, security
and the public sector naturally overlap is a major
advantage in this regard. The key is being able
to align these areas so that the whole system operates
efficiently and remains stable.
Personally, before joining the airport, I spent
13 years at the Military Repair Enterprise, where
these areas naturally intersected every single day.
It was an environment where strict rules and security
standards had to be respected, while at the same time
operating economically and managing the company as
a whole.
Thanks to that experience, the transition to the airport
was not a fundamental change for me. The principles
are very similar – the key lies in setting up processes,
defining clear responsibility and, above all, working
with people. And it is people who ultimately determine
whether such a complex organism functions well.
At the same time, it is important to say that the owner
of the airport, the Moravian-Silesian Region, plays
a major role in its operation and development.
The region has supported us over the long term not
only through investments and various incentive
programmes, but also by actively connecting us
with partners at the highest level. This cooperation
is absolutely crucial for the airport’s continued
development.
What is the most difficult decision you have
to make as a director?
The most difficult decisions always involve people.
Technology, numbers and operational matters all follow
clear rules, but working with people is far more complex.
You often deal with situations where professional
and personal matters overlap, and it is necessary
to find the right balance between a human approach
and professionalism.
I try to place strong emphasis on employees, their
stability, motivation and working environment.
At the same time, professionalism has to function
in the workplace – personal matters need to be kept
separate. Finding that balance is the most challenging
part in the long run, but also the most important.
What do you do to ensure Ostrava remains
competitive in the long term?
The foundation is a proactive business strategy,
consistent work with data and actively seeking out
new opportunities in the market. Close cooperation
with partners across the region is also extremely
important – not only within the Moravian-Silesian
Region, but also in the Olomouc Region and Zlín
Region, as well as in neighbouring areas of Poland
and Slovakia.
A key element is improving the region’s transport
accessibility. The airport is one of the main gateways
for both investors and tourists, which is why we focus
on combining different segments – scheduled routes,
low-cost connections and charter flights.
The connection to the Warsaw hub plays a particularly
strong role, allowing passengers to travel on a single
ticket to dozens of destinations around the world.
Alongside this, we are developing cooperation
with low-cost carriers such as Ryanair, which operates
routes from Ostrava to London, Girona and Málaga.
Marn Šturala spent 13 years at the Military Repair Enterprise before taking the helm of Leoš
Janáček Airport Ostrava. He says the transion was not a major change. The principles are
the same – only dierent machines are at stake. An interview about people, numbers, and the line
that is hardest to navigate in leadership.
VOP OSR
From Military Enterprise to Ostrava Runway
| Text: Monika Ševčíková, foto: Karel Juchelka