The British airline EasyJet has announced changes to its hand baggage rules concerning musical instruments. According to the airline, small musical instruments that will fit in the overhead locker will be accepted on board. This includes instruments measuring up to 30cm x 117cm x 38cm, such as ‘[a] guitar, violin, viola, piccolo, flute, clarinet, bugle [or] trumpet’. Larger instruments, such as a cello, can be also be accepted ‘by special arrangement’. EasyJet’s Chief Commercial Office, Dana Dunne, said, ‘We are proud to support Europe’s rich musical heritage, and recognise that many professional musicians fly to festivals and concerts all over Europe.’

The changes come as a result of EasyJet’s discussions with the Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM), which has recently launched a campaign to change airlines’ attitudes to musical instruments as cabin luggage. The campaign, titled ‘Instruments on Planes’, is calling for a minimum standard agreement within the airline industry, and has already been the subject of a House of Commons Early Day Motion, supported by signatures from 28 MPs.

www.ism.org