Hollywood Puts On Brave Face

If you're flying a long leg with US Airways this fall, be sure to bring along a good book or personal DVD player. The airline has announced Tuesday it will stop offering in-flight movies on domestic flights this fall.

In addition to the fees paid to movie producers to show the films, Reuters reports the airline believes it saves 500 pounds per-plane by removing entertainment equipment.

Reuters calculates nontheatrical distribution contributes $25 million or more per studio in annual revenue and more than $300 million among all media companies. In addition to the outright elimination of in-flight movies by US Airways, reductions in the numbers of flights among other airlines may also result in incremental reductions in revenue to Hollywood.

Hollywood executives don't expect other airlines to follow US Airways lead, and take heart in the seat-back digital screens becoming common, even in coach sections of new airliners.

"I think they will continue to offer entertainment to their passengers, even in the extremely difficult environment of rising fuel costs," said Julian Levin, Fox's executive VP in charge of nontheatrical sales.

Having seen how quickly checked-bag charges, steep fees for changing tickets, and other similar measures have spread across the industry... we're not sure we'd make that bet.

FMI: www.usairways.com