NEW fees for air displays will be phased in gradually, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has announced.

The authority has spent the last couple of months considering proposals to increase the fees it collects from shows by 100 per cent, in a bid to better recover its regulation costs and introduce new safety measures after last year’s tragic crash at Shoreham Airshow.

In February, Bournemouth Air Festival director Jon Weaver warned the increase would have a detrimental impact on this year's event with the fees they would have to pay rising from £2,527 in 2015 to nearly £12,000.

However after conducting a consultation the CAA has decided to phase in the increase over three years so as to reduce the burden on organisers.

Authority chief executive officer Andrew Haines said: "We understand that people care passionately about air shows and we want all events to be a success.

"We are also very clear that we will not compromise on safety. Enhancing the safety of air shows is essential and this extra work must be funded.

"However, we have listened to the responses and recognise that some shows could face challenges in absorbing the full cost of these changes into this display season.

"In making our final decision on fees we have therefore decided to phase in the new charges, recovering only half of our costs for the current year."

The news was welcomed by the organisers in Bournemouth.

Mr Weaver said: "The initial plan was looking pretty significant and show safety is obviously important, but we are pleased they have taken our considerations on board and have given air show organisers the opportunity to find alternative funding.

"There is an increase in fees this year, and in the next two years there is quite a big jump, but it does give us time to try and work this through."

The authority said its 2016/17 charges would only recover half of its projected costs.