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

(2004/C 299/09)

1.   France has decided to impose a public service obligation on scheduled air services between Poitiers (Biard) and Lyon (Saint-Exupéry) 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 in respect of scheduled air services between Poitiers (Biard) and Lyon (Saint-Exupéry) is as follows:

Minimum frequency

The service must be operated throughout the year with at least:

The service must be non-stop between Poitiers and Lyon.

Type of aircraft used

The service must be operated with a pressurised aircraft.

Timetables

The 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 Lyon or Poitiers.

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.