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

(2002/C 62/05)

1. France has decided to alter the public service obligation in respect of scheduled air services between Rodez (Marcillac) and Paris (Orly), as published in Official Journal of the European Communitites C 165 of 31 May 1997, 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 new public service obligation is as follows:

Minimum frequency

The minimum level of service provided must be:

- three return trips per day, morning, midday and evening, excluding public holidays, from Monday to Friday, all year round. The frequency at midday may be reduced at most eight weeks a year, in particular from mid-July to the beginning of September,

- one return trip, in the morning, on Saturdays,

- two return trips, afternoon and evening, on Sundays,

- one return trip on public holidays, except in special cases and with the agreement of the Syndicat mixte de l'aménagement et de l'exploitation de l'aéroport Rodez/Marcillac.

The services must be operated without a stopover between Rodez (Marcillac) and Paris (Orly).

Type of aircraft used and capacity provided

The service must be operated with a pressurised aircraft having a seating capacity of at least 50.

Timetables

Timetables must be such as to enable passengers on business trips during the working week to make the round trip within the day and to spend at least eight hours at their destination, whether Paris or Rodez.

Timetables must be such as to allow transit passengers to make use of Community and international connections at Paris (Orly).

Slots are reserved at Paris (Orly) airport for the scheduled Paris (Orly)-Rodez (Marcillac) service pursuant to Article 9 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 95/93 on common rules for the allocation of slots at Community airports. Air carriers interested in this route can obtain information about these slots from the Paris airports coordinator.

Flight bookings

Flights must be marketed by means of at least one computerised reservation system.

Fare increases must not exceed increases in the gross domestic product (GDP) price index excluding taxes and charges, except in the event of a significant increase in dollar reference parameters, fuel, insurance premiums, or any other substantial change in the economic environment which the carrier can justify over a given period in excess of three months.

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 IATA scheduling season. In addition, the carrier must give six months' notice before discontinuing the services.

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

3. This public service obligation replaces, with effect from 31 March 2002, the public service obligation concerning scheduled air services between Rodez (Marcillac) and Paris (Orly), as published in Official Journal of the European Communities C 165 of 31 May 1997.