Amendment by France of public service obligations in respect of scheduled air services within France

(2000/C 213/03)

(Text with EEA relevance)

1. France has decided to alter the public service obligations in respect of scheduled air services between Cayenne and Maripasoula, Cayenne and Saint-Georges-de-l'Oyapock and Cayenne and Saül published in notice 96/C 221/06 on page 8 of the Official Journal of the European Communites C 221 of 30 July 1996 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.

2. The altered public service obligations are as follows:

- Minimum frequency and capacity provided

(a) Between Maripasoula and Cayenne

- Minimum frequency

The services must be operated at a rate of at least two return trips every day.

- Capacity provided

A capacity of at least 70 seats per day must be provided.

During school holidays, an overall capacity of 8000 seats must be provided over the July, August and September period.

b) Between Cayenne and Saül

- Minimum frequency

The services must be operated at a rate of at least one return trip every day.

- Capacity provided

A capacity of at least 20 seats per day must be provided.

During school holidays, an overall capacity of 4000 seats must be provided over the July, August and September period.

(c) Between Cayenne and Saint-Georges-de-l'Oyapock

- Minimum frequency

The services must be operated at a rate of at least two return trips every day.

- Capacity provided

A capacity of at least 110 seats per day must be provided.

During school holidays, an overall capacity of 17000 seats must be provided over the July, August and September period.

- Passenger fares

A "basic" fare and a "reduced" fare must be offered on all flights with no capacity restriction. The "reduced tariff" applies to passengers holding a full residence permit proving residence of at least six months and one day a year in the commune (Maripasoula, Saül or Saint-Georges-de-l'Oyapock) to and/or from which they are requesting the reduction.

These fares must not exceed:

(a) Between Cayenne and Maripasoula:

- "basic" fare for a single ticket: FRF 334 (EUR 67,08);

- "reduced" fare for a single ticket: FRF 245 (EUR 37,96).

(b) Between Cayenne and Saül:

- "basic" fare for a single ticket: FRF 241 (EUR 66,77);

- "reduced" fare for a single ticket: FRF 160 (EUR 25).

(c) Between Cayenne and Saint-Georges-de-l'Oyapock:

- "basic" fare for a single ticket: FRF 241 (EUR 66,77);

- "reduced" fare for a single ticket: FRF 160 (EUR 25).

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, these maximum fares may be raised in proportion to the increase. The new maximum fare will be notified to the carriers operating the services and will apply within an appropriate period. It will also be communicated forthwith to the European Commission for publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

- Freight rates

Freight costs (in French francs per kilogram or in euro per kilogram) may not exceed, depending on the category of product, the figures given in the schedule of rates set out below:

>TABLE>

Essential food freight covers the products set out in the list annexed hereto, as used by government departments as a general information data document.

Maximum fares may be reviewed each year in the light of changes, over 12 months, in the retail price index. The new maximum fare must be notified to the carriers operating the routes by registered mail 90 days before it takes effect. The European Commission must at the same time be informed of the adjustment, which will be published in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

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, these maximum fares may be raised in proportion to the increase. The new maximum fares will be notified to the carriers operating the routes and will apply within an appropriate period. They will also be communicated forthwith to the European Commission for publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

- Quality of service

The carrier must have the refrigeration facilities necessary for the transport of all frozen and refrigerated products.

- Continuity of service

Except in cases of force majeure, the number of flights cancelled for reasons directly attributable to the carrier must not exceed 3 % of the number of flights scheduled in any year.

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

3. This public service obligation will replace that appearing in Commission notice 96/C 221/06 published in Official Journal of the European Communities C 221, page 8, of 30 July 1996 with effect from 1 November 2000.

ANNEX

ESSENTIAL PRODUCTS

Wheat flour type 45

High-quality pasta

Rice, preprocessed

Rice, not preprocessed

Wheat meal

Dried vegetables (all)

Vegetable preserves

Meat preserves

Fish preserves

Precooked preserved foods

Fish, dried or smoked

Cured meats

Sugars

Fine salt

Coarse salt

Chocolate bars

Cocoa, unsweetened

Jams

Bottled water

Long-life milk

Powdered milk

Butter

Margarine

Oils

Frozen meat and fish