52001XC1215(03)

Amendment by France of public service obligation on scheduled air services operating between Montluçon (Guéret) et Paris (Orly)

(2001/C 358/05)

(Text with EEA relevance)

1. France has decided to alter the amended public service obligation on scheduled air serives between Montluçon (Guéret) and Paris (Orly) published in Official Journal of the European Communities C 62 of 4 March 1999, 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.

2. The public service obligation is now as follows:

Minimum frequency

The minimum level of service provided must be two return trips per day, morning and evening, from Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays, 220 days a year.

The services must be non-stop between Montluçon (Guéret) and Paris (Orly).

Timetables

Timetables must be such as to enable business passengers to make the round trip within the day and to spend at least eight hours at their destination, whether Paris (Orly) or Montluçon (Guéret).

Slots are currently reserved at Paris (Orly) airport from Monday to Friday for the scheduled Paris (Orly) - Montluçon (Guéret) 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. Air carriers interested in this route can obtain information about these slots from the Paris airports coordinator.

Flight bookings

Flights must be marketed by means of at least one computerised reservation 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 %, per IATA scheduling season, of the number of flights scheduled. Furthermore, the carrier must give at least six months' notice before discontinuing the services.

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