Air Canada today announced it has added Symphony Nova Scotia and the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra to its roster of Canadian symphony orchestras it supports from coast to coast. The airline is offering special policies to ease its customer travel experience.

“We are delighted to announce our partnership with Symphony Nova Scotia and the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, making Air Canada the Official Airline of nine of the country’s leading symphony orchestras coast to coast,” says Craig Landry, Air Canada’s vice president of marketing. “As a proud Canadian brand, we believe in supporting these pre-eminent arts organizations to help enrich and engage audiences across this country.”

In addition to Symphony Nova Scotia and the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Air Canada is official airline to: Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, National Arts Centre Orchestra, Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, as well as the National Youth Orchestra of Canada.

“We are also pleased to introduce industry-leading enhancements for all our customers travelling with carry-on instruments, including pre-boarding benefits and a generous discount when purchasing an additional seat for their instrument,” concludes Landry. Customers may purchase a seat at a 50% discount off any published fare, including the lowest Tango fares, to accommodate a musical instrument.

“Meanwhile, the CFM [Canadian Federation of Musicians] is committed to continued lobbying of the government of Canada to harmonize with the US regulated FAA carry-on act. We have met and lobbied each and every stakeholder, including all National Airline Councils, Minister of Transport office, Canadian Transport Agency, and The Canadian Transport Review,” says Allistair Elliott, AFM International Representative, Canada. “All stakeholders are very aware of our position and the need for a unified policy and we are ready to continue all our efforts after the federal election.”