EN Official Journal of the European Union C 248/15

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

Imposition of new public service obligations in respect of scheduled air services on the route Narvik (Framnes) — Bodø v.v.

(2004/C 248/09)

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, Norway has decided to impose new public service obligations as of 8 March 2005 on the following route:

Narvik (Framnes) — Bodø v. v.

2. THE PUBLIC SERVICE OBLIGATIONS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:

2.1. Minimum frequencies, seating capacity, routing and timetables

The requirements apply to January to June and August to December. In July, there are requirements as to seating capacity only, with a minimum number of seats not less than 80 % of the minimum levels specified below.

Throughout the year a daily service obligation applies in both directions.

Frequencies:

— Minimum three daily return services Monday to Friday and minimum four return services Saturday and Sunday combined.

Seating capacity:

— in both directions at least 450 seats shall be offered Monday to Friday combined and at least 95 seats Saturday and Sunday combined,

— if the number of seats occupied during the period 1 January to 30 June or 1 August to 30 November exceeds 70 % of the number of seats offered, the carrier hall increase the seating capacity in accordance with the rules laid down by the Ministry of Transport and Communications in the Annex to this publication,

— if the number of seats occupied during the period 1 January to 30 June or 1 August to 30 November is lower than 35 % of the number of seats offered, the carrier may reduce the seating capacity in accordance with the rules laid down by the Ministry of Transport and Communications in the Annex to this publication.

Routing:

— The required services shall be non-stop.

Timetables:

Account shall be taken of the public demand for air travel.

In addition, the following apply to the required flights on Monday to Friday (local times):

— First arrival in Bodø shall be no later than 9.30 and last departure from Bodø no earlier than 18.00.

2.2. Aircraft category

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, including short runway at Narvik (Framnes).

For further information, please contact:

Luftfartstilsynet (Civil Aviation Authority), P O Box 8050 Dep, N-0031 Oslo; Tel. (+ 47) 23 31 78 00.

2.3. Fares

— maximum basic one-way fare (fully flexible) in the operating year beginning 8 March 2005 must not exceed NOK 1112,-,

— the carrier is responsible for making the tickets available at a price not exceeding the maximum basic one-way fare through at least one sales channel. The carrier is also responsible for keeping the customers informed about how such tickets are available,

— the carrier shall be party to the domestic interline agreements in force at any time, and shall offer all discounts available under such agreements,

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

2.4. Service continuity

The number of flights cancelled for reasons directly attributable to the carrier must not exceed 1,5 % of the planned number of flights on an annual basis, in accordance with the approved time schedule.

2.5 Cooperation arrangements

Following a tender procedure, which limits access to the routes encompassed by the public service obligations 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,

— bonus points from frequent flyer programmes can neither be earned nor redeemed on the flights.

Transfer conditions:

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

3. OTHER

These public service obligations replace those published as (Part 8) in Official Journal of the European Union C 112 of 9 May 2002, page 8, as far as scheduled air services on the route Narvik (Framnes) — Bodø v.v. are concerned.

4. INFORMATION

Further information can be obtained from:

Ministry of Transport and Communications, PO Box 8010 Dep, N-0030 Oslo; Tel. (+47) 22 24 83 53, fax (+47) 22 24 56 09

This documentation is also available on the Internet:

http://www.odin.dep.no/sd/norsk/aktuelt/anbud