VOP → OSR Z vojenského podniku na ostravskou runway
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POSITIV MAN
Charter transport is another important growth
segment, where we are successfully increasing both
the number of destinations and the frequency of flights
to popular holiday locations. We are also significantly
strengthening cargo transport, working with partners
from across Europe and Asia while gradually expanding
our destination network.
Where can you fly to from Ostrava?
Passengers currently have access to 26 destinations,
including the new route to İzmir. There is consistently
strong demand for traditional holiday destinations
such as Greece, Türkiye, Egypt and Spain. At the same
time, interest is also growing in new or less traditional
locations, such as Albania, southern Italy and smaller
Greek islands.
Why choose a regional airport?
More and more passengers are choosing departures
from regional airports because they are easier
to navigate, more time-efficient and overall more user-
friendly than large international airports. It is a trend
that has grown significantly stronger in recent years.
Are passenger habits changing?
Yes, in the past it was common for people to take
one longer holiday per year, whereas today they are
more likely to choose several shorter trips throughout
the year.
Interest in independent travel is also growing — people
are increasingly organising trips themselves and using
scheduled routes for short city breaks, for example.
We are seeing the rise of so-called “Euro weekends”,
where passengers fly for a few days to destinations
such as Spain and other European countries.
At the same time, passengers are becoming more
demanding when it comes to service quality, comfort
and the overall travel experience. We are adapting our
facilities accordingly — in recent years, the business
lounge has been renovated and its capacity increased,
the bistro in the public departure area has been
modernised, and we are currently completing
the refurbishment of the airport cafés. At the same
time, we are expanding parking capacity to further
improve passenger comfort.
What determines whether an airline opens
a route from Ostrava?
It comes down to a combination of several factors —
the size and potential of the market, the catchment
area, current trends and the economics of operating
the route.
Our advantage is that we serve not only the Moravian-
Silesian Region, but also the Olomouc and Zlín regions,
southern Poland and the Žilina area in Slovakia.
At the same time, it is important to recognise that
competition between airports is extremely strong,
and every route involves long-term negotiations.
The final decision always lies with the airline.
Where can the airport move forward from here?
Our goal is stable and sustainable growth. In passenger
transport, we rely on a broad catchment area that
includes not only the Moravian-Silesian Region,
but also the Olomouc and Zlín regions, southern
Poland and the Žilina area in Slovakia.
We want to continue strengthening this position
and further develop our offering so that it remains
attractive not only to local residents, but also
to travellers from the wider region.
In the field of cargo transport, our ambition
is to strengthen our position on a European level
and continue expanding cooperation with international
partners.
How do you balance the role of airport director
with your personal life?
Being an airport director is not a typical nine-to-five
job. It is something you carry with you constantly — you
deal with matters continuously and think about them
even outside the office.
That is why finding a balance between work
and personal life is so important. Family plays a crucial
role in that respect, and I try to make sure that work
does not disrupt family life.
At the same time, I also try to bring positive things
from work back home — experience, energy
and mindset. And conversely, it is important to maintain
professionalism at work and not bring personal matters
into it. That balance is not always easy, but in the long
run it is absolutely essential.
Ing. Marn Šturala has served as Chief Execuve
Ocer of Leště Ostrava, a.s. (Ostrava Airport)
since 1 August, 2025. Prior to that, he worked
at the state-owned enterprise VOP CZ, where he held
key posions including Technical Director, Execuve
Director and Company Director. He brings extensive
experience in team leadership, project management
within defence contracts, and the engineering industry.
The key is seng up processes, clear
accountability, and above all, working
with people. And it’s people who
ulmately decide.