C 238/2EN Official Journal of the European Union 28.9.2005
Imposition by Finland of a public service obligation relating to the scheduled air service on the Helsinki — Mikkeli — Savonlinna route
(2005/C 238/02)
(Text with EEA relevance)
1. In accordance with 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 Finnish Government (Ministry of Transport and Communications) has decided to impose a public service obligation relating to scheduled flights on the Helsinki-Mikkeli-Savonlinna route from 1 November 2005 to 31 December 2006, except during the period from 30 June 2006 to 30 July 2006.
2. The following service conditions will apply.
2.1 Minimum number of flights
The minimum number of flights on the Helsinki-Savonlinna route will be three in each direction on working days from Monday to Friday, not including public holidays. The itinerary for the early morning flight will be Savonlinna-Mikkeli-Helsinki and the itinerary for the late evening flight will be Helsinki-Mikkeli-Savonlinna.
On Saturdays there must be at least one connection from Savonlinna to Helsinki and on Sundays at least one connection from Helsinki via Mikkeli to Savonlinna.
The timetable may be altered at Christmas and other holiday periods according to demand.
2.2 Number of seats
Capacity on each flight must be at least 30 seats. The average monthly seat-occupancy rate must not exceed 80 %. 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.
2.3 Timetable
On Mondays to Fridays, a flight must leave Savonlinna and Mikkeli airports early enough in the morning to reach Helsinki-Vantaa in time for the main international connections and, in the evening, a flight must leave for Savonlinna and Mikkeli late enough for travellers arriving on the main interna- tional connections to catch.
On Mondays to Fridays a flight must leave Helsinki-Vantaa airport early enough to reach Savonlinna airport by 8.45 am.
There must also be a flight, on Mondays to Fridays, leaving Savonlinna in time to reach Helsinki- Vantaa between 8.45 and 9.45. There must be an evening departure from Helsinki-Vantaa back to Savonlinna, and a departure after working hours from Savonlinna to Helsinki.
On Saturday mornings there must be a flight from Savonlinna to Helsinki-Vantaa. On Sunday, there must be a late evening flight from Helsinki-Vantaa via Mikkeli to Savonlinna.
2.4 Fares
A single ticket between Savonlinna and Helsinki must not cost more than EUR 168, inclusive of all taxes and charges and a single ticket between Mikkeli and Helsinki must not cost more than EUR 163. Cheaper ticket categories must be available and must account for at least 15 % of all tickets. 28.9.2005 EN Official Journal of the European Union C 238/3
The carrier must agree on an interline arrangement for the route covered by the public-service obliga- tion 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 follow, with regard to fares on the route, the pro rata system in accordance with international rules. The PSO carrier must conclude interline agreements, with the same or equivalent conditions, with any other interested carrier oper- ating 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 with through-pricing and luggage-handling arrangements. 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 reservations system.
2.5 Continuity of service A carrier intending to operate scheduled flights on this route must give an undertaking to provide the service required under the public-service obligation until the end of October 2006. The operation of air services on the route in question without regard to the abovementioned public service obligation may result in administrative and/or criminal penalties.
2.6 Accessibility for people with functional disabilities The carrier must ensure that provision is made for the needs of people with functional disabilities.
Passenger numbers: general information
Table 1. Number of passengers between Savonlinna and Helsinki, 2001-2003
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Total
2001 1980 2207 2582 2121 2494 3225 9556 5433 2266 2301 2478 1515 38 158
2002 2080 2193 2172 2137 2780 2660 9058 3866 1960 2522 2774 1908 36 110
2003 2176 2197 2503 1967 2242 2830 8590 2496 1795 2167 2079 1514 32 556
Table 2. Number of passengers between Mikkeli and Helsinki, 2001-2003
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Total
2001 252 297 395 260 366 216 - 234 280 321 337 125 3 083
2002 253 286 238 316 277 205 - 220 293 306 305 195 2 894
2003 220 277 234 211 258 169 - 204 241 278 235 191 2 518