The former BBC Young Musician of the Year is due to fly to China next week to play three concerts with the City of London Sinfonia in Beijing, Hangzhou and Shanghai.
However, severe restrictions on hand luggage introduced following the recent terror scare mean that Benedetti would be forced to put her Guarneri violin in the hold.
The violinist fears that the irreplaceable 18th-century instrument, which was given to her by her father, could be damaged during the journey.
Benedetti, 19, said: “I am extremely excited to be performing in China and would be disappointed if it were not to go ahead.
“I have seen time and again the way general luggage is handled, and I would rather not fly than see my violin treated in this way.”
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Steve Abbott, Benedetti’s manager, and Elaine Baines Robins, the general manager of the City of London Sinfonia, are now in urgent talks with officials at the German airline Lufthansa to save the tour.
“At the moment, it is hanging in the balance,” said Abbott. “There have been a few sleepless nights. Even if we manage to get some kind of dispensation for Nicola — and we are not sure if that will happen — there’s no point in her getting to China if the rest of the orchestra can’t get there.”