Imposition by France of public service obligations on scheduled air services between Pointe-à-Pitre and Saint-Martin Grand Case (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2003-07-22
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: French West Indies, Guadeloupe, air freight rate, air transport, airline, public service, transport planning, transport policy

C 172/18

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

22.7.2003

2.5. Flight bookings:

Flights must be marketed by means of at least one booking system accessible by rapid data trans-
mission.

2.6. Continuity of service:

Except in cases of force majeure, the number of flights cancelled for reasons directly attributable to
the carrier must not exceed 2 % of the number of flights scheduled per year in the operating
programme.

The carrier must give at least six months' notice before discontinuing the services.

Community carriers are hereby informed that the operation of air services without regard to the above-
mentioned public service obligations may result in administrative and/or criminal penalties.

Air carriers are hereby informed that the French authorities reserve the right to grant aid having a social
character to certain categories of passengers on these routes on the basis of Article 87(2)(a) of the Treaty.

Imposition by France of public service obligations on scheduled air services between Pointe-à-Pitre
and Saint-Martin Grand Case

(2003/C 172/05)

(Text with EEA relevance)

1.

Pursuant to Article 4(1)(a) of Regulation (EEC) No 2408/92 of 23 July 1992 on access for Community
air carriers to intra-Community air routes, France has decided to impose public service obligations on
scheduled air services between Pointe-à-Pitre le Raizet and Saint-Martin Grand Case.

2.

The public service obligations are as follows:

2.1. Minimum frequency:

At least two round trips per day, without stopover.

2.2. Type of aircraft used:

The services must be operated with a turboprop aircraft.

2.3. Timetables:

Timetables must be such as to enable passengers, from Monday to Friday, to make a round trip
within a day and to spend at least seven hours in Pointe-à-Pitre.

2.4. Fares:

The full rate single Y fare between Pointe-à-Pitre and Saint-Martin Grand Case must not exceed
EUR 80.

The following categories of passenger must be entitled to fares of not more than EUR 66, with no
capacity restriction:

— persons under 20 years old,

22.7.2003

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 172/19

— persons over 60 years old,

— students under 27 years old,

— disabled persons and invalids.

A fare of EUR 66 must be offered on all flights, without capacity restriction or time constraints on
ticket reservations or purchases, to passengers whose principal place of residence is Saint-Martin
(French part) and who use tickets purchased in Saint-Martin, the validity of which is restricted to
a stay outside the island of less than 14 days, in order to make a round trip starting from Saint-Martin
Grand Case.

These fares exclude per capita taxes and duties levied by the State,
authorities and identified as such on the ticket.

local authorities and airport

If an abnormal and unforeseeable increase in the cost factors affecting the operation of the routes
takes place for which the carriers are not responsible, these maximum fares may be raised in
proportion to the increase. The new maximum fares will be notified to the carriers operating the
services and will enter into force after their publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

2.5. Flight bookings:

Flights must be marketed by means of at least one booking system accessible by rapid data trans-
mission.

2.6. Continuity of service:

Except in cases of force majeure, the number of flights cancelled for reasons directly attributable to
the carrier must not exceed 2 % of the number of flights scheduled per year in the operating
programme.

The carrier must give at least six months' notice before discontinuing the services.

Community carriers are hereby informed that the operation of air services without regard to the above-
mentioned public service obligations may result in administrative and/or criminal penalties.

Air carriers are hereby informed that the French authorities reserve the right to grant aid having a social
character to certain categories of passengers on these routes on the basis of Article 87(2)(a) of the Treaty.