Commission notice pursuant to Article 4(1)(a) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2408/92 — Imposition of a public service obligation for the period  1.3.2006  —  28.2.2009  on scheduled air services between Mariehamn/Åland (MHQ) and Stockholm/Arlanda (ARN), supplementing earlier decisions Text with EEA relevance
Date: 2006-04-21
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Sweden, air transport, airline, services of general interest

C 93/4

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

21.4.2006

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

Imposition of a public service obligation for the period 1.3.2006 — 28.2.2009 on scheduled air
services between Mariehamn/Åland (MHQ) and Stockholm/Arlanda (ARN), supplementing earlier
decisions

(2006/C 93/03)

(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
to intra-Community air routes, the Government of Åland has
decided to impose a public service obligation in respect of
scheduled air services for the route Mariehamn (MHQ) —
Stockholm/Arlanda (ARN) as follows:

Type of aircraft

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

Minimum frequency

During the period 1.3.2006 — 28.2.2009,
the frequency
Monday — Friday shall be at least 2 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

At least 30 seats shall be available per flight and at least 2 500
seats per month. If the cabin factor exceeds 80 % during any
calendar quarter in the first year, the offer shall be adjusted for
the next period of the timetable.

Timetable

Travellers on any working day from Åland must have the
opportunity to make a round trip to all destinations with
scheduled air traffic connections in Sweden, and to Oslo,
Copenhagen and the major airports in the rest of Europe.

The aircraft should arrive at ARN Monday — Friday by 06.30
at the latest and between 16.30 and 18.30. Departure from
ARN should be Monday — Friday between 08.00 and 09.30
and between 19.30 and 21.00,
if appropriate slots can be
provided. During certain days of the year when demand is
particularly low, such as bank holiday weekends or lengthy
holiday periods,
in 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 round
trip.

flights may,

Fares

The fare for a round trip MHQ-ARN must not exceed EUR 290
including taxes and VAT.

Price adjustments can be made in accordance with SCB's flight
fare index for business trips, subject to approval by the Govern-
ment of Åland. Discount fares shall be made available, eg for
children, young people, students and senior citizens.

Information, booking, sales and marketing

Reliable information shall be available for the whole trip prior
to departure. The airline is responsible for ensuring that up-to-
date and correct timetable, fare and other information is readily
available and is spread by an appropriate means. Marketing
shall also take place through advertisements in the local press,
other media and in tourist brochures, with the objective of
promoting air travel.

Continuity of flights

A maximum of 20 % of departures may be more than 5
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 6
months' notice prior to cancellation of the operation.

21.4.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 93/5

Accessibility

— Booking and purchase of tickets shall be simple for the

The airline 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
and people with special needs and their legitimate require-
ments in terms of in-flight assistance.

— Escorting and other reasonable services shall be provided

when changing flights.

traveller.

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

English.

Environmental requirements

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

— Information on travel opportunities and travel routes shall

be given upon request.

Reporting

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

The airline operating the MHQ-ARN route is required to report
to the Government of Åland each calendar quarter on how its
service obligations have been met.