52001XC0306(03)

Imposition of a public service obligation on scheduled air services between Tours and Lyons

(2001/C 72/05)

(Text with EEA relevance)

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 the airports of Tours-Val-de-Loire and Lyons-Saint-Exupéry.

2. The new public service obligation is 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 the airports of Tours-Val-de-Loire and Lyons-Saint-Exupéry.

Type of aircraft used

The service must be operated with a pressurised aircraft having a seating capacity of at least 19. The height of the airframe must not be less than 1,75 metres.

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 seven hours at their destination, whether Tours or Lyons.

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 % of the number of flights scheduled in any year.

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

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.