Cabin crew at British Airways are to go on strike for three days from March 20 and for four days from 27 March, Unite, the union representing the airline's staff, has said.

Unite members will still have the chance to vote on a new offer from BA, but the union has advised them not to accept it. The result of the vote is expected next week. Cabin crew voted in favour of taking strike action last month.

Unite, which has to give seven days notice before taking strike action, is in dispute with BA over salaries and working conditions, including the number of staff on long-haul flights.

BA has said cost cutting measures are necessary to deal with the extremely difficult conditions facing the air travel sector.

BA said it has already made preparations to cope with a strike. It has trained 1,000 staff to cover for striking cabin crew. It also has plans to hire planes from charter companies.

It said that 70% of cabin crew would still be working at Gatwick, meaning that all long-haul and 50% of short-haul flights would still go ahead and that the strike would not affect flights from London City Airport. BA boss Willie Walsh said a 'substantial' number of flights would still operate from Heathrow.

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