British Airways has welcomed the decision confirmed today (April 30) by the Copyright Tribunal to reduce fees payable for playing music in-flight.

The airline initiated proceedings before the Copyright Tribunal to set a fair level of fees payable to the Performing Right Society.

For the years 1996-7, the PRS initially asked for £1.1 million from British Airways. The Tribunal decided that a reasonable royalty for that period was £700,000, and that an improved and simplified Tariff should be put in place for all UK airlines.

In addition to bearing their own costs, the Tribunal also ordered the PRS to pay 50 per cent of British Airways’ costs.

Martin George, British Airways Director of Marketing said: ” We are pleased that the Tribunal has settled this dispute and British Airways will now pay fees that are more comparable to our international competitors.”

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