Commission notice pursuant to Article 4(1)(a) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2408/92 — Imposition of a public service obligation for the period from 5 May 2003 until the change of timetable in March 2006 on scheduled air services between Mariehamn/Åland (MHQ) and Stockholm/Arlanda (ARN), supplementing earlier decisions (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2002-12-20
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Finland, Sweden, air freight rate, air transport, aircraft, airline, consumer information, nuisance, public service, transport capacity

C 320/6

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

20.12.2002

Commission notice pursuant to Article 4(1)(a) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2408/92

Imposition of a public service obligation for the period from 5 May 2003 until the change of
timetable in March 2006 on scheduled air services between Mariehamn/Åland (MHQ) and
Stockholm/Arlanda (ARN), supplementing earlier decisions

(2002/C 320/06)

(Text with EEA relevance)

Pursuant to Article 4(1)(a) of Council Regulation (EEC) No
2408/92 of 23 July 1992 on access for Community air
carriers
Finnish
Government has decided to impose a public service obligation
in respect of scheduled air services for the route Mariehamn
(MHQ)–Stockholm/Arlanda (ARN) as follows:

intra-Community

routes,

the

air

to

Minimum frequency

Between 5 May 2003 and the change of timetable in March
2006, the Monday to Friday frequency shall be at least two
round trips per day. There will be no flights in July on account
of the low level of demand. All flights must be direct.

Number of seats

Fares

The fare for a round trip MHQ–ARN may not exceed
EUR 330 including taxes and VAT. Price adjustments can be
made in accordance with SCB´ s flight fare index for business
trips, following approval from Åland's Government. Discount
fares shall be provided for weekend trips and private travellers
as well as for children, youths, students, senior citizens and
accompanying persons.

Information, booking, sales and marketing

Reliable information shall be available for the whole trip prior
to departure. The airline company is responsible for ensuring
that current and correct timetable, fare and other information
is readily available and is spread through Amadeus and other
GDS systems. Marketing shall also occur
through adver-
tisements in the local press, other media and in tourist
brochures, with the objective of promoting air travel.

At least 18 seats shall be available per flight with a minimum
of 16 200 seats per year. If, during any calendar quarter, the
cabin factor exceeds 80 % or falls below 35 % the offer shall be
adjusted for the next period of the timetable.

Cooperation agreement

Timetable

Travellers on a working day from Åland must be able to make
a round trip to all destinations with regular air traffic in
Sweden, and to Oslo, Copenhagen and the major airports
within the rest of Europe. The aeroplane should arrive at
ARN Monday to Friday by 7.00 at the latest and between
16.15 and 19.00. Departure from ARN should be Monday to
Friday between 7.00 and 9.00 and between 18.15 and 21.00, if
appropriate slots can be provided. In addition, during certain
days of the year when demand is particularly low, such as bank
in
holiday weekends or longer holiday periods, flights may,
special circumstances, be reduced, with the agreement of the
awarding authority, subject to a specially agreed credit per
single trip. By analogy, the offer may be increased subject to
a specially agreed fare per single trip.

Type of plane

The true air speed (TAS) shall be at least 360 km/h. The plane
must have a pressurised cabin with toilet facilities. The baggage
allowance, per passenger, on a fully loaded plane and under
normal weather conditions, shall be at least 20 kg.

There shall be an interline agreement between air companies
for acceptance of one another's tickets in accordance with
current practice.

Continuity of flights

A maximum of 20 % of departures may be more than five
minutes late and a maximum of 5 % of departures may be
more than 15 minutes late. Apart from situations beyond the
airline's control, the regularity of flights shall be at least 99 %
per calendar quarter. The airline must give a minimum of six
months notice prior to cancellation of the operation.

Availability

The air company must meet the requirements of travellers in
the following way:

— boarding and disembarkation must take place in a dignified,

safe, and secure manner,

— special attention shall be paid to sick and disabled people
legitimate

and people with special needs
requirements in terms of in-flight assistance,

and their

20.12.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 320/7

— escorting and other reasonable services shall be provided

Environmental demands

when changing flights,

— information on travel opportunities and travel routes shall

be given upon request,

— safety and other information must be provided graphically
(in such a way that passengers with a sight or hearing
impediment can assimilate it),

The aircraft's noise levels must not exceed the current limits.
All equipment
is designed to
improve comfort and the environment must function and be
used in accordance with current instructions.

installed on the aircraft

that

Reports

The airline operating the route MHQ–ARN is required to
report to Åland's Government each calendar quarter on how
its obligations been met.

— booking and purchase of tickets shall be simple for the

Proposed timetable MHQ–ARN round trip

traveller,

— all on-board announcements must be given in Swedish and

English.

MHQ

7.25

ﬁ

16.55 ﬁ

ARN

6.55

16.25

ARN

8.40

ﬁ

18.50 ﬁ

MHQ

10.10

20.20

NOTICE UNDER SECTION 12(2) OF THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT 1984

Proposed modification to the licence of National Transcommunications Ltd

(2002/C 320/07)

This was published on Friday 29 November 2002 in the London, Belfast and Edinburgh gazettes.

The link to the notice on Oftel's website is:

http://www.oftel.gov.uk/ind_info/licensing/mods/2002/mar041002.htm