Petition for Improved Airport Security Procedures for Professional Musicians and Their Instruments

Professional musicians travel through airports every day carrying instruments that are not only essential tools of their trade but are often irreplaceable works of craftsmanship worth tens or even hundreds of thousands of pounds. These instruments are often far too delicate to be placed in the hold with the other luggage, yet airport staff often seem surprised that they need to be carried as hand luggage. Extra seats are often booked for bigger instruments, yet check-in personnel frequently seem wholly unfamiliar with this common practice. 

Current security procedures frequently require instruments to be manually inspected, swabbed, handled, tilted, turned upside down, or placed in positions that can risk damage to delicate mechanisms, finishes, strings, bows, valves, and internal components. In many airports, the absence of suitably sized scanning equipment means that valuable instruments are subjected to physical handling that would never be considered acceptable for other fragile professional equipment.

For musicians, an instrument is not simply luggage. It is a livelihood. Damage to an instrument can result in cancelled performances, lost income, expensive repairs, and in some cases irreversible harm to historically significant instruments that cannot be replaced.

The issue is not security itself - musicians fully support the need for rigorous security measures but the problem is the lack of standardised procedures, specialist training, and appropriate equipment for screening musical instruments safely and efficiently.

We call upon airport authorities, aviation regulators, and security providers to:

1. Introduce standardised screening procedures specifically designed for musical instruments.

2. Provide training for security personnel on the safe handling of common professional instruments.

3. Install appropriately sized scanning equipment capable of accommodating larger instruments wherever feasible.

4. Establish a specialist review process before requiring physical manipulation of delicate instruments.

5. Consult with professional musician organisations when developing security protocols affecting instruments.

Every day, airports successfully accommodate sensitive medical devices, high-value electronics, and specialist equipment through tailored procedures. Professional musical instruments deserve the same level of consideration.

Musicians contribute enormously to cultural life, international events, education, and the creative economy. They should not be forced to choose between protecting their instruments and complying with inconsistent security practices.

By signing this petition, we ask airports and regulators to modernise security screening for musical instruments, ensuring that security requirements are met without placing invaluable instruments at unnecessary risk.

Protect the instruments that make music possible. Improve airport security procedures for musicians now.