The British Surfing Association is trying to persuade British Airways to reverse a ban on taking surfboards on its flights.

Delegates from the group were set to hand in a petition of 8,000 signatures to the carrier's London headquarters on Nov. 6, when the ban was to come into force.

The Australian professional surfer Mick Fanning, currently ranked number one in the world, is among those who have signed the petition, while a group on the social networking Web site Facebook has attracted 10,000 opponents of the ban.

British Airways announced the ban last month, saying surfboards are too cumbersome to check-in.

Other items banned from flights from Nov. 6 include windsurfing boards, hang-gliders, pole-vaults, javelins and canoes.

The airline will, however, continue to allow passengers to travel with other sporting items, including skis, snowboards, bicycles, golf clubs and diving equipment.

Karen Walton, national director of the BSA, said the group was "very optimistic" that its action would prove fruitful, following a surge in support for its cause.

"News about the ban has spread though the global surf community by word-of-mouth, through the Internet and through the international media," she said. "Without a doubt, the reaction has been one of disbelief, shock and anger."

"It is essential that BA realizes just how strongly they are alienating the global surf industry and reverses this ban, and it's critical that other airlines understand that this is not an example they can consider following."

Asked whether the airline would stick to its guns, a BA spokeswoman said on Nov. 5: "This is the new policy as of tomorrow."

She said BA was "one of the few airlines" to carry a wide range of sporting goods free of charge, but had decided not to accept "certain larger items" following a review of its hold baggage policy.

"It's not a case of trying to penalize surfers," she added. "We had to take a tough decision."

The airline is working with freight forwarders to find alternative means for customers to transport surfboards and other banned sporting items.