Imposition by France of public service obligations in respect of scheduled air services within France

(2004/C 299/08)

1.   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, France has decided to impose a public service obligation on scheduled air services between Annecy (Meythet) and Paris (Orly).

2.   The public service obligation is as follows:

Minimum frequency

The service must be operated throughout the year with at least three return trips a day, one in the morning and one in the evening, from Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays and one return trip on Sunday.

The service in the middle of the day may be rerouted for up to 10 weeks a year.

The service must be non-stop between Annecy and Paris (Orly).

Type of aircraft used

The service must be operated with a pressurised aircraft having a seating capacity of at least 40.

Timetables

Timetables must be such as to enable passengers on business trips during the working week to make the round trip within the day and to spend at least eight hours at their destination, whether Annecy or Paris.

Flight bookings

Seats on these flights must be marketed by at least one computerised booking system.

Continuity of service

Except in cases of force majeure, the number of flights cancelled for reasons directly attributable to the carrier must not exceed 3 % of the number of flights scheduled in any year. The carrier must give six months' notice before discontinuing the service.

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

3.   Slots have been reserved at Paris (Orly) airport for the scheduled Paris (Orly) — Annecy service pursuant to Article 9 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 95/93 of 18 January 1993 on common rules for the allocation of slots at Community airports, as amended by Regulation (EC) No 793/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 April 2004. Air carriers interested in this route can obtain information about the allocation of these slots from the Paris airports coordinator.