Public service obligation   (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2006-06-20
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Finland, air transport, airline, public service, transport capacity

20.6.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 144/5

Public service obligation

(2006/C 144/03)

(Text with EEA relevance)

The Finnish Government (Ministry of Transport and Communi-
cations) has decided to revise public service obligations
imposed 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 public service obli-
gations in question were published in Official Journal of the Euro-
pean Union C 204 of 20 August 2005 and C 238 of 28
September 2005.

Varkaus late enough to be caught by travellers arriving on the
main international connections.

On Mondays to Fridays a direct flight must leave Helsinki-
Vantaa airport early enough to reach Savonlinna and Varkaus
airports by 8.30 am.

The revised public service obligation becomes applicable as of
1 August 2006 on the domestic Helsinki-Varkaus-Savonlinna
route. The public service obligation concerning Mikkeli will
end when this notice is published.

There must also be direct
flights, on Mondays to Fridays,
leaving Savonlinna and Varkaus in time to reach Helsinki-
Vantaa by 9.40 am.

The public service obligations concerning the Helsinki-Varkaus-
Savonlinna route are as follows:

There must be an afternoon direct flight from Helsinki-Vantaa
back both to Savonlinna and Varkaus. From both Savonlinna
and Varkaus airports there must be a direct flight after working
hours to Helsinki.

Minimum number of flights

The minimum number of flights between Helsinki and Varkaus
and between Helsinki and Savonlinna will be three in each
direction on working days
from Monday to Friday, not
including public holidays. On the Savonlinna-Varkaus-Helsinki
route there must be an early morning flight and on the
Helsinki-Varkaus-Savonlinna route there must be a late evening
flight.

On Saturdays there must be at least one connection from
Savonlinna via Varkaus to Helsinki and on Sundays at least one
late night connection from Helsinki via Varkaus to Savonlinna.

The timetable may be altered at Christmas and other holiday
periods according to demand.

During the Savonlinna Opera Festival summer period there
must be at least three flights in each direction between Helsinki
and Savonlinna from Monday to Saturday as well as two flights
on Sundays. During the Savonlinna Opera Festival there is no
need to operate flights between Helsinki and Varkaus.

Timetable

On Saturday mornings there must be a flight from Savonlinna
via Varkaus to Helsinki-Vantaa airport. On Sundays, there must
be a late evening flight from Helsinki-Vantaa via Varkaus to
Savonlinna.

The timetable may be altered at Christmas and other holiday
periods according to demand.

During the Savonlinna Opera Festival summer period there
must be mid-day flights in each direction between Helsinki-
Vantaa and Savonlinna.
In addition, during the Savonlinna
Opera Festival period, there must from Monday to Saturday be
an afternoon flight from Helsinki-Vantaa to Savonlinna and
after midnight a flight from Savonlinna to Helsinki-Vantaa.

Number of seats

Capacity on each flight must be at least 32 seats. The average
monthly seat-occupancy rate must not exceed 80 %. During the
Savonlinna Opera Festival period the number of seats on the
route to Savonlinna must be increased on day, afternoon and
evening flights to 68 seats, or, alternatively, capacity must be
increased by extra flights so that this additional requirement
can be fulfilled.

On Mondays to Fridays, a flight must leave Savonlinna and
Varkaus airports early enough in the morning to reach
Helsinki-Vantaa in time for the main international connections
in the evening, a flight must leave for Savonlinna and
and,

There should be enough luggage/cargo capacity to enable each
passenger, on a full flight in normal weather conditions, to
carry on 8 kg in hand luggage and put at least 20 kg in the
hold.

C 144/6

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

20.6.2006

Ticket prices and sales

A single one-way ticket between Savonlinna and Helsinki or
between Varkaus and Helsinki must not cost more than €160,
inclusive of all taxes and charges. Cheaper ticket categories
must be available and must account for at least 25 % of all
tickets.

The carrier must agree on an interline arrangement for the
route covered by the public service obligation with at least one
carrier operating a service out of Helsinki-Vantaa. The interline
agreement should be on the same or equivalent terms and
conditions and should, with regard to fares on the route, follow
the pro rata system in accordance with international rules. The
carrier having the public service obligation must conclude
interline agreements, with the same or equivalent conditions,
with any other interested carrier operating air services from
Helsinki-Vantaa airport. The carrier must provide the Ministry
of Transport and Communications with any information
concerning the interline agreements and their contents which it
needs for the purpose of carrying out checks.

The carrier must have an international reservation and ticketing
system operation in Finland and an IATA interline agreement
and luggage-handling arrangements.
with through-pricing

Information concerning prices and timetables must be included
in the international reservations and ticketing system.

The carrier must have a cooperation agreement covering
through-pricing with at least one company that flies to foreign
destinations from Helsinki-Vantaa airport.

Flights must be marketed using at least one computerised reser-
vations system.

Continuity of service

The operation of air services on the route in question without
regard to the above-mentioned public service obligation may
result in administrative and/or criminal penalties.

Air carriers that intend to discontinue the provision of sched-
uled air services on the routes in question must notify the
Finnish Civil Aviation Authority at least six months before the
air services are discontinued.

Accessibility for people with functional disabilities

The carrier must ensure that provision is made for the needs of
people with functional disabilities.

20.6.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 144/7

ANNEX

APPEALS

The right to appeal

An appeal against the Ministry of Transport and Communications may be lodged by anyone to whom the decision is
addressed or whose rights, obligations or interests are directly affected by the decision. An appeal may be lodged on the
grounds that the decision is illegal.

Adjudicating authority and deadline for appeals

Any party who opposes this decision may apply to have it amended by lodging an appeal. Appeals should be submitted
in writing to the Supreme Administrative Court.

Appeals must be submitted within 30 days of being notified of the decision, not including the day of notification.

Appeals must arrive by close of business on the last day of the appeal-submission period.

Content of appeals

Appeals must state:

— which decision is being contested;

— which aspect of the decision the appeal concerns and what changes the appellant is calling for;

— on what grounds the changes are called for.

The appeal must also state the name and place of residence of the appellant. If the appellant has appointed a legal repre-
sentative or agent to speak for it or the appeal has been drafted by a third party, the appeal must also indicate the repre-
sentative, agent or third party's name and place of residence.

The appeal must give a postal address and telephone number that can be used to communicate with the appellant on
matters relating to the appeal.

The appeal must be signed by the appellant, representative or agent.

Annexes to the appeal

The following must be attached to the appeal:

— the original decision of the Ministry of Transport and Communications or a copy thereof;

— proof of the date on which the appellant was notified of the decision or other proof of when the period for the

submission of appeals began;

— any documents supporting the appellant's demands not yet submitted to the authorities;

— power of attorney, if an agent is used.

Submitting the appeal

The appeal must be sent to the registry of the Supreme Administrative Court before the deadline expires. The
Supreme Administrative Court is located at:

Unioninkatu 16, Helsinki. Its postal address is: PL 180, FIN-00131 Helsinki.