Leoš Janáček Airport Ostrava is an international airport in the Moravian-Silesian Region. In its historical overview, the operator refers to it as the Ostrava – Mošnov airport.[1] Civilian operations began there on 16 October 1959. Since 2004 the airport has been owned by the Moravian-Silesian Region.[1]
Early aviation in the area
The history of the site goes back to the first decade of the 20th century. In the then village of Harty lived the Žurovec brothers, regional aviation pioneers who carried out their work and experiments there between 1909 and 1914. The First World War interrupted their efforts. After the war, Josef and Vilém Žurovec returned to civilian flying with an aircraft bought from war surplus, but their enterprise eventually ended due to a lack of funds.[1]
Military use
The site of today's airport was first used for aviation by the German Luftwaffe. After the occupation of Czechoslovakia, it built a field airfield there in 1939 to prepare for the attack on Poland. In May 1945 it was used by the first Czechoslovak mixed air division. A period of inactivity followed, and the land reverted to agricultural use.[1]
Construction and civilian operation
The modern history of the airport begins in 1956, when construction work started. According to the operator, it was clear from the outset that it would not be merely a transport airport, but would mainly serve the needs of the military.[1] The official start of civilian operations is dated to 16 October 1959, when a Tu-104A aircraft landed there. At the same time, all traffic was transferred there from the inadequate Ostrava – Hrabůvka airport, which was located directly within the city's built-up area.[1]
Flights were operated by ČSA. These were mainly domestic routes and irregular international flights, and over time all types of ČSA transport aircraft, both piston and jet, passed through Mošnov. In the 1960s and 1970s an air taxi service also operated, which was very widespread at the time.[1]
Since 1989
The operator identifies 1989 as a significant turning point. In 1993 the military part of the airport ceased operations, and the responsibilities associated with its operation passed to ČSL.[1] Another important date was 1 July 2004, when the airport was transferred from the ownership of the state enterprise Česká správa letišť to the ownership of the Moravian-Silesian Region.[1]