Air Canada Hits a Sour Note

In a disheartening turn of events, acclaimed UK cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason will not be serenading Air Canada anytime soon. He and his piano-playing sister, Isata, were en route to a highly anticipated concert at Koerner Hall, Toronto, when Air Canada refused to let Kanneh-Mason's priceless cello board the aircraft, despite the musician having purchased an extra seat for it.

This cello isn't just any instrument; it's a centuries-old treasure, crafted by renowned Venetian luthier Matteo Goffriller around 1700, and valued at a staggering $4.5 million. As one of the brightest stars on the classical music scene, Kanneh-Mason is known for drawing attention on big stages, most famously performing at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018. However, his fame did little to sway Air Canada during this ordeal.

The siblings were on their Winter 2024 tour traveling from Cincinnati to Toronto when their original flight via American Airlines was delayed and eventually canceled. In a scramble, they booked a new Air Canada flight, purchasing a ticket for the beloved cello, only to face a series of frustrating encounters with the airline. Kanneh-Mason later revealed to the New York Times that he and Isata received conflicting information from Air Canada's staff, ultimately resulting in their cello being denied boarding at the gate.

According to Air Canada’s policy for traveling musicians, although they offer a 50% discount for extra seats for musical instruments, compliance with certain stipulations is necessary. The policy dictates that musicians should contact Air Canada Reservations as soon as they book their flight, or at least 48 hours before departure. Unfortunately, in Kanneh-Mason’s case, the airline attributed the boarding denial to late booking, leaving him and his sister devastated.

Expressing his frustration on social media, Kanneh-Mason lamented the lack of uniform standards across airlines regarding the transport of precious instruments. He stated, “We can only dream of a time when all airlines have a standardized, global and carefully considered approach to the carriage of precious instruments that are booked to travel in the cabin.”

The concert at Koerner Hall had to be postponed to June 2024, much to the disappointment of fans who were eager to hear him perform. This incident highlights a recurring theme for traveling musicians. Kanneh-Mason pointed out that many musicians face similar challenges when flying with their instruments, suggesting that a coordinated effort among airlines to better manage these issues is urgently needed.

This isn't the first time Air Canada has been in hot water over similar issues. In 2017, a chamber orchestra, the Kremerata Baltica, faced a similar fate when one of their cellos was removed from a flight despite having paid for a seat. Moreover, in September 2023, Kanneh-Mason encountered problems once again when his cello was refused boarding on a British Airways flight from Bucharest to London.

With mounting incidents of this nature, it begs the question: when will airlines take the necessary steps to create an efficient and musician-friendly travel experience? As the world eagerly awaits Kanneh-Mason's rescheduled performance, it’s clear that something must change in the industry to ensure the safe and accommodating transport of musicians and their invaluable instruments.