EN Official Journal of the European Union C 144/5

Public service obligation

(2006/C 144/03)

(Text with EEA relevance)

The Finnish Government (Ministry of Transport and Communications) has decided to revise public service obligations imposed 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. The public service obligations in question were published in Official Journal of the European Union C 204 of 20 August 2005 and C 238 of 28 September 2005.

The revised public service obligation becomes applicable as of 1 August 2006 on the domestic Helsinki-Varkaus-Savonlinna route. The public service obligation concerning Mikkeli will end when this notice is published.

The public service obligations concerning the Helsinki-Varkaus-Savonlinna route are as follows:

Minimum number of flights

The minimum number of flights between Helsinki and Varkaus and between Helsinki and Savonlinna will be three in each direction on working days from Monday to Friday, not including public holidays. On the Savonlinna-Varkaus-Helsinki route there must be an early morning flight and on the Helsinki-Varkaus-Savonlinna route there must be a late evening flight.

On Saturdays there must be at least one connection from Savonlinna via Varkaus to Helsinki and on Sundays at least one late night connection from Helsinki via Varkaus to Savonlinna.

The timetable may be altered at Christmas and other holiday periods according to demand.

During the Savonlinna Opera Festival summer period there must be at least three flights in each direction between Helsinki and Savonlinna from Monday to Saturday as well as two flights on Sundays. During the Savonlinna Opera Festival there is no need to operate flights between Helsinki and Varkaus.

Timetable

On Mondays to Fridays, a flight must leave Savonlinna and Varkaus airports early enough in the morning to reach Helsinki-Vantaa in time for the main international connections and, in the evening, a flight must leave for Savonlinna and Varkaus late enough to be caught by travellers arriving on the main international connections.

On Mondays to Fridays a direct flight must leave Helsinki-Vantaa airport early enough to reach Savonlinna and Varkaus airports by 8.30 am.

There must also be direct flights, on Mondays to Fridays, leaving Savonlinna and Varkaus in time to reach Helsinki-Vantaa by 9.40 am.

There must be an afternoon direct flight from Helsinki-Vantaa back both to Savonlinna and Varkaus. From both Savonlinna and Varkaus airports there must be a direct flight after working hours to Helsinki.

On Saturday mornings there must be a flight from Savonlinna via Varkaus to Helsinki-Vantaa airport. On Sundays, there must be a late evening flight from Helsinki-Vantaa via Varkaus to Savonlinna.

The timetable may be altered at Christmas and other holiday periods according to demand.

During the Savonlinna Opera Festival summer period there must be mid-day flights in each direction between Helsinki-Vantaa and Savonlinna. In addition, during the Savonlinna Opera Festival period, there must from Monday to Saturday be an afternoon flight from Helsinki-Vantaa to Savonlinna and after midnight a flight from Savonlinna to Helsinki-Vantaa.

Number of seats

Capacity on each flight must be at least 32 seats. The average monthly seat-occupancy rate must not exceed 80 %. During the Savonlinna Opera Festival period the number of seats on the route to Savonlinna must be increased on day, afternoon and evening flights to 68 seats, or, alternatively, capacity must be increased by extra flights so that this additional requirement can be fulfilled.

There should be enough luggage/cargo capacity to enable each passenger, on a full flight in normal weather conditions, to carry on 8 kg in hand luggage and put at least 20 kg in the hold.

Ticket prices and sales

A single one-way ticket between Savonlinna and Helsinki or between Varkaus and Helsinki must not cost more than €160, inclusive of all taxes and charges. Cheaper ticket categories must be available and must account for at least 25 % of all tickets.

The carrier must agree on an interline arrangement for the route covered by the public service obligation with at least one carrier operating a service out of Helsinki-Vantaa. The interline agreement should be on the same or equivalent terms and conditions and should, with regard to fares on the route, follow the pro rata system in accordance with international rules. The carrier having the public service obligation must conclude interline agreements, with the same or equivalent conditions, with any other interested carrier operating air services from Helsinki-Vantaa airport. The carrier must provide the Ministry of Transport and Communications with any information concerning the interline agreements and their contents which it needs for the purpose of carrying out checks.

The carrier must have an international reservation and ticketing system operation in Finland and an IATA interline agreement with through-pricing and luggage-handling arrangements. Information concerning prices and timetables must be included in the international reservations and ticketing system.

The carrier must have a cooperation agreement covering through-pricing with at least one company that flies to foreign destinations from Helsinki-Vantaa airport.

Flights must be marketed using at least one computerised reservations system.

Continuity of service

The operation of air services on the route in question without regard to the above-mentioned public service obligation may result in administrative and/or criminal penalties.

Air carriers that intend to discontinue the provision of scheduled air services on the routes in question must notify the Finnish Civil Aviation Authority at least six months before the air services are discontinued.

Accessibility for people with functional disabilities

The carrier must ensure that provision is made for the needs of people with functional disabilities.