A study of major European airlines reveals that British Airways has the worst record for losing travellers' luggage.
Figures lodged with the Association of European Airlines (AEA) has shown that 23 bags went missing for every 1,000 passengers carried by BA last year.
That was the worst performance out of the 24 airlines which submitted their data for official scrutiny.
Although Aer Lingus is a member, it is one of the six AEA members - including Virgin Atlantic and Bmi - which do not provide statistics. AEA membership does not include Ryanair and easyJet.
BA was quoted in the report as blaming increased security measures, the volume of hold baggage going through Heathrow and baggage system failures at Terminal 4 for its performance.
The figures have been publicised by the UK consumer watchdog for aviation Air Transport Users Council (AUC), for the first time this year.
The AUC is now asking the European Commission to establish a 'name and shame' league table.
More than 5.5 million bags went missing among the 24 AEA members in 2006 - an average of 15.9 per 1,000 passengers.
Large airlines, such as Lufthansa, Air France, Alitalia and KLM, were the worst offenders, as well as the smaller airline TAP Air Portugal, which had 21 bags per 1,000 passengers disappear.
The bigger airlines are more susceptible because they tend to operate at major hub airports. Passengers on connecting flights are exposed to the highest risk of all because each bag is handled more often.
