Imposition of a public service obligation in respect of scheduled services on routes within Greece in accordance with Council Regulation (EEC) No 2408/92

(2001/C 239/02)

1. Pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2408/92 the Greek Government has decided to impose, as of 26 October 2001, a public service obligation in respect of scheduled services on the following routes:

- Athens-Astipalaia,

- Athens-Ikaria,

- Athens-Leros,

- Athens-Milos,

- Athens-Skiros,

- Thessaloniki-Samos,

- Thessaloniki-Khios,

- Limnos-Mitilini-Khios-Samos-Rodos,

- Rodos-Karpathos-Kasos,

- Rodos-Kastellorizo.

2. On these routes, the public service obligation is as follows:

(a) Minimum frequency of flights and minimum number of seats available each week on each route:

- Athens-Astipalaia

Four return flights a week and a total of 54 seats a week in each direction throughout the year.

- Athens-Ikaria

Four return flights a week and a total of 136 seats a week in each direction throughout the year.

- Athens-Leros

Six return flights a week and a total of 124 seats a week in each direction throughout the winter, as determined by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Seven return flights a week and a total of 145 seats a week in each direction throughout the summer, as determined by the IATA.

- Athens-Milos

Seven return flights a week and a total of 152 seats a week in each direction throughout the winter, as determined by the IATA.

Eight return flights a week and a total of 174 seats a week in each direction throughout the summer, as determined by the IATA.

- Athens-Skiros

Two return flights a week and a total of 20 seats a week in each direction throughout the year.

- Thessaloniki-Samos

Two return flights a week and a total of 28 seats a week in each direction throughout the year.

- Thessaloniki-Khios

Two return flights a week and a total of 20 seats a week in each direction throughout the year.

- Limnos-Mitilini-Khios-Samos-Rodos

Limnos-Mitilini-Rodos

Two return flights a week and a total of 20 seats a week in each direction throughout the year.

Limnos-Mitilini-Khios-Rodos

One return flight a week and a total of 20 seats a week in each direction throughout the year.

Limnos-Mitilini-Samos-Rodos

One return flight a week and a total of 20 seats a week in each direction throughout the year.

Limnos-Mitilini-Khios-Samos-Rodos

One return flight a week and a total of 20 seats a week in each direction throughout the year.

- Rodos-Karpathos-Kasos

Rodos-Karpathos

Five return flights a week and a total of 300 seats a week in each direction throughout the year.

Rodos-Karpathos-Kasos

Five return flights a week and a total of 300 seats a week in each direction throughout the year.

- Rodos-Kastellorizo

Five return flights a week and a total of 50 seats a week in each direction throughout the year.

If the average occupancy rate of all the flights on one route has exceeded 75 % during the previous period, the minimum weekly frequency or the minimum number of seats provided each week may be increased in proportion to the increase recorded. This increase shall be notified to the carrier operating the service but shall not come into effect until it has been published by the European Commission in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

If flights are cancelled because of weather conditions, they must be operated on the days immediately afterwards in order to fulfil the weekly requirement, taking into account the minimum number of seats provided pursuant to point 2(a).

(b) Rates

The price of the economy fare may not exceed the following rates:

- Athens-Astipalaia GRD 15800 (EUR 46,36),

- Athens-Ikaria GRD 13900 (EUR 40,79),

- Athens-Leros GRD 16200 (EUR 47,54),

- Athens-Milos GRD 10800 (EUR 31,69),

- Athens-Skiros GRD 9700 (EUR 28,46),

- Thessaloniki-Samos GRD 21600 (EUR 63,38),

- Thessaloniki-Khios GRD 18200 (EUR 53,41),

- Limnos-Rodos GRD 18000 (EUR 52,82),

- Limnos-Mitilini GRD 10700 (EUR 31,40),

- Limnos-Khios GRD 10700 (EUR 31,40),

- Limnos-Samos GRD 10700 (EUR 31,40),

- Mitilini-Khios GRD 8000 (EUR 23,47),

- Mitilini-Samos GRD 10700 (EUR 31,40),

- Mitilini-Rodos GRD 16000 (EUR 46,95),

- Khios-Samos GRD 8000 (EUR 23,47),

- Khios-Rodos GRD 12000 (EUR 35,21),

- Samos-Rodos GRD 10700 (EUR 31,40),

- Rodos-Kasos GRD 10000 (EUR 29,34),

- Rodos-Kasparos GRD 8000 (EUR 23,47),

- Kasparos-Kasos GRD 6000 (EUR 17,60),

- Rodos-Kastellorizo GRD 7000 (EUR 20,54).

The above amounts may be increased in the event of an unforeseen increase in the costs of operating the service outside the control of the carrier. This increase shall be notified to the carrier operating the service but shall not come into effect until it has been published by the European Commission in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

(c) Minimum frequency of flights

According to Article 4(1)(c) of Regulation (EEC) No 2408/92, a carrier intending to operate regular flights on certain routes must give guarantee to operate the route for at least 12 months without interruption.

The number of flights cancelled for reasons for which the carrier is responsible may not exceed 2 % of the total annual number of flights, except in cases of force majeure.

Any intention to cease operation of any of the aforementioned routes must be notified by the air carrier to the Civil Aviation Department, Directorate for Air Operations, Section for Bilateral Air Agreements, at least six months before services are interrupted.

3. Useful information

Operation of flights by a Community carrier who does not fulfil the public service obligations imposed may result in the imposition of administrative or other sanctions.

As regards the types of aircraft to be used, air carriers are asked to consult Aeronautical Information Publications of Greece (Air Greece) as regards technical and business data and airport procedures.

As regards timetables, arrivals and departures of aircraft must be planned within the operating times of airports as determined by decision of the Minister for Transport and Communications.

It should be noted that in cases where an air carrier has not declared to the Civil Aviation Department, Directorate for Air Operations, an intention to operate scheduled services as of 26 October 2001 on one or more of the abovementioned lines without financial compensation, Greece has decided, under the procedures in Article 4(1)(d) of Regulation (EEC) No 2408/92, to limit access to the route to only one carrier for a period of up to three years (in accordance with the invitation to tender published in the Official Journal of the European Communities) and, subsequent to the invitation to tender, to grant the right to operate those services as of 26 October 2001.