LONDON - After losing more luggage than any other European airline, British Airways reportedly sought to keep its dubious No. 1 ranking under wraps. BA lost one bag for every 36 passengers in April, May and June -- nearly double the European industry average of one lost bag for every 63 passengers, an Association of European Airlines, AEA, survey said. British Airways asked the AEA not to make the data public out of fear it would hurt business, The Times of London reported Saturday. The Times said BA had so many lost bags piled at London's Heathrow Airport, it rented a fleet of trucks to haul the luggage to Italy for sorting. Some passengers said it took more than a month to get their belongings returned. The AEA report also said nearly a third of British Airways' flights departed later than scheduled. Only three airlines scored lower than BA in that category -- and they were much smaller, The Times said. MagazineLane.com - Linens N' Things
