Talks breakdown between British Airways & cabin crew

British Airways has expressed deep regret at the failure of talks aimed at averting strikes by the Transport and General Workers' Union cabin crew branch.

Speaking after more than 24 hours of intense discussions with the T&G's deputy general secretary, Jack Dromey, and other senior T&G shop stewards, Willie Walsh, the airline's chief executive, said: "We are bitterly disappointed that the T&G has refused to respond positively to the serious proposals we have made on the union's two crucial issues.

"We have accepted the T&G's proposal to improve the application of the absence management policy. We have put forward a solution on pay as part of our upcoming wage round. The T&G has rejected our position out of hand.

"It has chosen instead to confirm a 48-hour stoppage for next week that will wreck the travel plans of hundreds of thousands of customers.

"If it is serious about solving this dispute peacefully it should turn away from confrontation and support our approach to Acas in a bid to find a breakthrough."

The T&G has said it will call out cabin crew members on strike on January 30 and 31; February 5, 6, 7; and February 12, 13 and 14.