Air Canada Denies Boarding for $4.5M Cello, Forcing Concert Cancellation

British cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason and his sister Isata were unable to perform in Toronto after their cello's pre-booked seat was rejected by Air Canada.

Sheku Kanneh-Mason, famed for his performance at the 2018 royal wedding, and his sister Isata had to cancel a sold-out concert in Toronto due to travel issues with Air Canada.
Despite purchasing a seat for the 300-year-old Matteo Goffriller cello, worth $4.5 million, the airline refused to allow it on board, citing booking inconsistencies.
The siblings faced delays, cancellations, and nine hours at the airport before concluding their trip was not possible, leading to the concert's postponement to June 3, 2025.
Air Canada stated it is investigating why the cello seat booking was not properly processed, while the musicians called for standardized global airline policies for transporting valuable instruments.
This incident adds to ongoing frustrations among professional musicians, as similar issues with airline policies have been reported in the past.