Commission Communication pursuant to Article 4(1)(a) of Council Regulation (EEC) 2408/92

Modification by the United Kingdom of public service obligations in respect of scheduled air services between Glasgow and Campbeltown and Glasgow and Tiree

(1999/C 355/03)

(Text with EEA relevance)

1. The United Kingdom has decided to modify the public service obligations in respect of the scheduled air services Glasgow and Campbeltown and Glasgow and Tiree as set out in the notices published in the Official Journal of the European Communities C 387 of 21 December 1996, page 6, 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 modified public service obligations are as follows:

- Minimum frequencies

- two return trips per day except Saturdays and Sundays between Glasgow and Campbeltown; and

- one return trip per day except Sundays between Glasgow and Tiree.

(One of the daily trips on the Glasgow to Campbeltown service may be combined with the Glasgow to Tiree service on Mondays to Fridays (inclusive). A separate air service between Glasgow and Tiree should be provided on Saturdays).

- Capacity

- The capacity of the aircraft used on the Glasgow to Campbeltown route on Mondays to Fridays should be not less than 13 seats (Glasgow to Campbeltown) and 15 seats (Campbeltown to Glasgow);

- where not combined with the Glasgow to Campbeltown service, the capacity of the aircraft used on the Glasgow to Tiree route on Mondays to Fridays should be not less than 13 seats (Glasgow to Tiree) and 15 seats (Tiree to Glasgow);

- the capacity of the aircraft used on the Glasgow to Tiree on Saturdays should be not less than nine seats (Glasgow to Tiree) and 14 seats (Tiree to Glasgow);

- the capacity of the aircraft used on a combined Glasgow to Campbeltown and Glasgow to Tiree service on Mondays to Fridays should be not less than 13 seats on the outward journey from Glasgow and 15 seats on the return journey to Glasgow.

(Provision is currently made by the present operator for one seat for the post office on all outbound Glasgow to Tiree services. This is, however, subject to separate contract arrangements).

- Fares

- The price of a single ticket for travel on the Glasgow to Campbeltown route must not exceed GBP 52 (excluding air passenger duty) which is the maximum fare even when via another airport, that is, on the combination of the Campbeltown and Tiree services; and

- the price of a single ticket for travel on the Glasgow to Tiree route must not exceed GBP 77 (excluding air passenger duty) which is the maximum fare even when via another airport, that is, on the combination of the Tiree and Campbeltown services.

The maximum fare on the routes may be increased once every year whith the prior written consent of the Scottish Ministers in line with the United Kingdom's Retail Price Index (all items) or any successor index to this.

No other changes may be made to the fare levels without the prior written consent of the Scottish Ministers.

The new maximum fare on each route must be notified to the Civil Aviation Authority and to the European Commission which may publish them in the Official Journal of the European Communities.