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Conductor criticises air security Conductor criticises air security
(about 9 hours later)
Airline security measures that prevent many musicians from taking instruments on board planes as hand luggage has been criticised by a leading conductor. Airline security measures that prevent many musicians from taking instruments on board planes as hand luggage have been criticised by a leading conductor.
Mark Elder - a guest conductor for the BBC Symphony Orchestra - made the criticism in a speech on the Last Night of the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall.Mark Elder - a guest conductor for the BBC Symphony Orchestra - made the criticism in a speech on the Last Night of the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall.
He said performers faced "enormous difficulty" as a result of the policy.He said performers faced "enormous difficulty" as a result of the policy.
Last month the Musicians' Union said the security measures were having a "devastating impact" on musicians.Last month the Musicians' Union said the security measures were having a "devastating impact" on musicians.
It says its members "are reporting significant lost earnings" because they are unable to take their instruments on board aircraft as hand luggage.It says its members "are reporting significant lost earnings" because they are unable to take their instruments on board aircraft as hand luggage.
Under current rules, passengers are allowed one item of cabin baggage, which must be no larger than a laptop bag.Under current rules, passengers are allowed one item of cabin baggage, which must be no larger than a laptop bag.
'Concerto for Laptop''Concerto for Laptop'
A spokeswoman at the Department for Transport said instruments would have to be checked into the hold until the security situation was downgraded.A spokeswoman at the Department for Transport said instruments would have to be checked into the hold until the security situation was downgraded.
Many instruments are too fragile to be placed in the hold of an airliner, the union told BBC News.Many instruments are too fragile to be placed in the hold of an airliner, the union told BBC News.
Speaking on Saturday, Mr Elder said: "The one aspect of the situation that really affects us here on the platform [and that] is the enormous difficulty that so many musicians are having at the moment in travelling by plane into this country and out of it.Speaking on Saturday, Mr Elder said: "The one aspect of the situation that really affects us here on the platform [and that] is the enormous difficulty that so many musicians are having at the moment in travelling by plane into this country and out of it.
"And I think it's greatly to be regretted.""And I think it's greatly to be regretted."
He went on: "I think we would all agree that the time has come really to put an end to this unfairness.He went on: "I think we would all agree that the time has come really to put an end to this unfairness.
"Otherwise it seems to me that next year we should all look forward to 'Concerto for Laptop and Orchestra'.""Otherwise it seems to me that next year we should all look forward to 'Concerto for Laptop and Orchestra'."
The Department for Transport has said the security regulations will "be in place for as long as they need to be".The Department for Transport has said the security regulations will "be in place for as long as they need to be".