Public service obligations are imposed by the Corsican regional authority on certain air or sea routes to ensure the principle of territorial continuity. The purpose of these obligations is, within the framework adapted to each mode of transport, to provide sufficient passenger or freight services in terms of continuity, regularity, frequency, quality and price and, where appropriate, capacity, to alleviate the constraints associated with insularity and thus facilitate the island’s economic development, the balanced development of the island’s territory and the development of economic and human exchanges between the island and mainland France.
When the Corsican territorial collectivity decides to subject air service routes to public service obligations, it may, in compliance with the applicable advertising procedures, designate airlines holding an air carrier operating licence issued by a Member State of the European Union or a party to the European Economic Area to operate these routes.
When the Corsican territorial collectivity decides to subject maritime service routes to public service obligations, it may, in compliance with the applicable advertising and competitive tendering procedures, designate for the operation of these routes shipping companies whose fleet is registered in a Member State of the European Union or party to the European Economic Area and flying the flag of that Member State or party, provided that the vessels in that fleet meet all the conditions laid down by that Member State or party to be admitted to cabotage.
For air or sea services, the Corsican territorial collectivity may also establish an individual aid scheme of a social nature for certain categories of passengers.