Imposition by France of public service obligations on scheduled air services between Lyons and Ajaccio, Lyons and Bastia, Lyons and Calvi, and Lyons and Figari

(2000/C 297/04)

(Text with EEA relevance)

1. Pursuant to the decision of the Corsican regional authorities of 25 May 2000, France has decided to impose, from 29 October 2000 (start of the 2000/2001 winter scheduling season), public service obligations on scheduled air services between Lyons and Ajaccio, Lyons and Bastia, Lyons and Calvi, and Lyons and Figari, pursuant to Article 4(1)(a) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2408/92 of 23 July 1992 on access for Community air carriers to intra-Community air routes(1).

2. The public service obligations take account of Corsica's island status and are as follows:

2.1. Minimum frequency

The minimum frequencies are as follows:

(a) Between Lyons and Ajaccio and between Lyons and Bastia

- four round trips per week from 1 October to 30 April,

- one round trip per day from 1 May to 30 September.

(b) Between Lyons and Calvi and between Lyons and Figari

- two round trips per week from 1 October to 30 April,

- three round trips per week from 1 May to 30 September.

The services must be non-stop.

2.2. Fares

The following categories of passengers must be charged a fare not exceedings FRF 780, with no capacity restriction:

(i) young persons (under 25 years of age);

(ii) senior citizens (aged 60 years or over);

(iii) students (under 27 years of age);

(iv) families (one or both parents travelling with at least one of their children who is a minor);

(v) disabled persons.

The purchase of tickets at these prices may be subject to an advance booking requirement which may not exceed 14 days before the departure date.

(vi) passengers whose principal place of residence is in Corsica and who use tickets purchased in Corsica, the validity of which is restricted to a stay outside the island of less than 40 days, in order to make a round trip starting from Corsica, on all flights without capacity restriction and without time constraints on ticket reservations or purehases.

These fares exclude per capita taxes and duties charged by the State, local authorities and airport authorities, and identified as such on the air ticket.

If an abnormal and unforeseeable increase in the cost factors affecting the operation of the routes takes place for which the carriers are not responsible, that fare may be raised in proportion to the increase. The new maximum fare must be notified to the carriers operating the services and will apply after its publication by the European Commission in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

2.3. Continuity of service

Except in cases of force majeure, the number of fligths cancelled for reasons directly attributable to the carrier must not exceed 1 % of the number of flights scheduled in any IATA scheduling season.

In accordance with Article 4(1)(c) of Regulation (EEC) No 2408/92, any carrier intending to operate one or other of these services must undertake to do so for at least 12 consecutive months.

The carrier must give at least six months notice before discontinuing these services.

Community carriers are hereby informed that the operation of air services without regard to the abovementioned public service obligations may result in administrative and/or criminal penalties.

Air carriers are hereby informed that the French authorities reserve the right to grant aid having a social character to certain categories of passengers on these routes on the basis of Article 87(2)(a) of the Treaty.

(1) OJ L 240, 24.8.1992, p. 8.