EN Official Journal of the European Union C 174/22

Communication from the EFTA Surveillance Authority under Article 4.1(a) of the Act referred to in point 64a in Annex XIII of the EEA Agreement (Council Regulation (EEC) No 2408/92 of 23 July 1992 on access for Community air carriers to intra-Community air routes)

(2005/C 174/08)

Imposition of public service obligations on scheduled air service on the following routes:

1. Gjögur-Reykjavík v.v.

2. Bíldudalur-Reykjavík v.v.

3. Sauðárkrókur-Reykjavík v.v.

4. Grímsey-Akureyri v.v.

5. Vopnafjörður-Þórshöfn-Akureyri v.v.

6. Höfn-Reykjavík v.v.

1. INTRODUCTION

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 (http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/lex/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:31992R2408:EN:HTML ), Iceland has decided to continue imposing public service obligations in respect of scheduled air services as of 1 January 2006 on the following routes:

1. Gjögur-Reykjavík v.v.

2. Bíldudalur-Reykjavík v.v.

3. Sauðárkrókur-Reykjavík v.v.

4. Grímsey-Akureyri v.v.

5. Vopnafjörður-Þórshöfn-Akureyri v.v.

6. Höfn-Reykjavík v.v.

2. THE PUBLIC SERVICE OBLIGATIONS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING

2.1. Minimum frequencies, seating capacity, routing and timetables

The requirements apply throughout the operating period from 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2008 (3 years).

Minimum frequency

— Reykjavík-Gjögur-Reykjavík: 2 roundtrips every week

— Reykjavík-Bíldudalur-Reykjavík: 6 roundtrips every week

— Reykjavík-Sauðárkrókur-Reykjavík: 5 roundtrips every week

— Akureyri-Grímsey-Akureyri: 3 roundtrips every week

— Akureyri-Vopnafjörður-Þórshöfn-Akureyri: 5 roundtrips every week

— Reykjavík-Höfn-Reykjavík: 7 roundtrips every week

Routing

— The required services shall be non-stop.

Timetable

— Reykjavík-Gjögur-Reykjavík: Departure from Reykjavík at 09:00 or later. Arrival to Reykjavík no later than 17:00.

— Reykjavík-Bíldudalur-Reykjavík: Departure from Reykjavík kl. 09:00 or later. Arrival to Reykjavík no later than 19:00.

— Reykjavík-Sauðárkrókur-Reykjavík: Departure from Reykjavík 08:00 or later. Arrival to Reykjavík no later than 19:00.

— Akureyri-Grímsey-Akureyri: Departure from Akureyri 09:00 or later. Arrival to Akureyri no later than 17:00.

— Akureyri-Vopnafjörður-Þórshöfn-Akureyri: Departure from Akureyri 09:00 or later. Arrival to Akureyri no later than 17:00.

— Reykjavík-Höfn-Reykjavík: Departure from Reykjavík 08:00 or later. Arrival to Reykjavík no later than 18:00.

Seating capacity

— Reykjavík-Gjögur-Reykjavík: In both directions at least 9 seats shall be offered for each trip.

— Reykjavík-Bíldudalur-Reykjavík: In both directions at least 9 seats shall be offered for each trip.

— Reykjavík-Sauðárkrókur-Reykjavík: In both directions at least 15 seats shall be offered for each trip.

— Akureyri-Grímsey-Akureyri: In both directions at least 9 seats shall be offered for each trip during the period 1 September to 30 April. In both directions at least 15 seats shall be offered for each trip during the period of 1 May to 31 August.

— Akureyri-Vopnafjörður-Þórshöfn-Akureyri: In both directions at least 9 seats shall be offered for each trip during the period 1 September to 30 April. In both directions at least 15 seats shall be offered for each trip during the period of 1 May to 31 August.

— Reykjavík-Höfn-Reykjavík: In both directions at least 15 seats shall be offered for each trip.

2.2. Aircraft category

— Reykjavík-Gjögur-Reykjavík: Multi engine turboprop aircraft registered for minimum 9 passengers and 600 kg freight shall be used for the required flights during the period of 1 November till 31 May. Multi engine turboprop aircraft registered for minimum 9 passengers and 200 kg freight shall be used for the required flights during the period of 1 June till 31 October.

— Reykjavík-Bíldudalur-Reykjavík: Multi engine turboprop aircraft registered for minimum 9 passengers shall be used for the required flights.

— Reykjavík-Sauðárkrókur-Reykjavík: Multi engine turboprop aircraft registered for minimum 15 passengers shall be used for the required flights.

— Akureyri-Grímsey-Akureyri: Multi engine turboprop aircraft registered for minimum 9 passengers shall be used for the required flights during the period of 1 September to 30 April. Multi engine turboprop aircraft registered for minimum 15 passengers shall be used for the required flights during the period 1 May to 31 August.

— Akureyri-Vopnafjörður-Þórshöfn-Akureyri: Multi engine turboprop aircraft registered for minimum 9 passengers shall be used for the required flights during the period of 1 September to 30 April. Multi engine turboprop aircraft registered for minimum 15 passengers shall be used for the required flights during the period 1 May to 31 August.

— Reykjavík-Höfn-Reykjavík: Multi engine turboprop aircraft registered for minimum 15 passengers shall be used for the required flights.

— Carriers attention is especially drawn to technical and operative conditions applying at the airports.

2.3. Fares

— Maximum basic one-way fare (fully flexible) excluding airport tax and insurance premium may not exceed following prices (price index January 2005): 1. Reykjavík — Gjögur ISK 7 730 (+ ISK 630) 2. Reykjavík — Bíldudalur ISK 8 920 (+ ISK 630) 3. Reykjavík — Sauðárkrókur ISK 8 920 (+ ISK 630) 4. Akureyri — Grímsey ISK 7 675 (+ ISK 630) 5. Akureyri — Vopnafjörður ISK 9 675 (+ ISK 630) 6. Akureyri — Þórshöfn ISK 9 675 (+ ISK 630) 7. Reykjavík — Höfn ISK 11 075 (+ ISK 630)

— Social discounts conforming to the usual practice shall be offered.

— Changes can be made in ticket prices according to changes in the consumer price index but no more frequently than every 6 months.

2.4. Freight rates

Reykjavík-Gjögur-Reykjavík: The service fee per freight shall not exceed ISK 640 excl. VAT and price charged per kg shall not exceed ISK 18 excl. VAT during the period 1 November to 31 May (price level January 2005).

2.5. Service continuity

The number of flight cancelled for reasons directly attributable to the carrier must not exceed 4 % of the intended number of flights on an annual basis.

2.6. Cooperation arrangements

Following a tender procedure, which limits access to the following routes:

1. Gjögur-Reykjavík v.v.

2. Bíldudalur-Reykjavík v.v.

3. Sauðárkrókur-Reykjavík v.v.

4. Grímsey-Akureyri v.v.

5. Vopnafjörður-Þórshöfn-Akureyri v.v.

6. Höfn-Reykjavík v.v.

to one carrier these conditions apply:

Fares

— All connecting fares to/from other air services shall be offered on equal terms for all carriers. Exempted from this are connecting fares to/from other services carried out by the tenderer, provided that the fare is maximum 40 % of the fully flexible fare.

Transfer conditions

— All conditions set out by the carrier for the transfer of passenger to and from other carriers routes, including connecting times and through check-in of tickets and baggage, shall be objective and non-discriminatory.

3. FURTHER INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM: