BA cabin crew to vote on new strike action

Another strike ballot of British Airways cabin crew will be held although their leaders are trying “very hard” to reach a settlement with the airline as the final stage of industrial action ends, a union official said today.

Derek Simpson, joint general secretary of Unite, said the sticking point in the long-running row was now a “silly one”, about the removal of travel concessions from those who have taken action.

Union members walked out for the 22nd day today in the long-running dispute which has cost the carrier more than £150m (€180m), with further action threatened for the summer unless the deadlock is broken.

The airline’s chief executive Willie Walsh has announced cuts in business and first-class fares, pledging to “keep the flag flying” throughout the summer.