A MAJOR airline has warned passengers its flights could be cancelled as a result of staff strike action.

British Airways released a statement yesterday morning as members of Balpa, the British Airways Pilots Association, prepare to take industrial action today.

This will affect up to 300,000 passengers including many flying from Gatwick Airport.

A spokesman for the airport said: “If you are flying with British Airways on or around September 9 or 10, your flight is likely to

be impacted by industrial action.

“Please do not travel to the airport if your flight has been cancelled.

“Further information and advice is available from British Airways.”

A spokesman for the airline said: “We’re extremely sorry for the problems caused by the strike action called by the pilots’ union, Balpa on 9, 10 and 27 September.

“Our customer teams – supported by additional colleagues – have been working tirelessly to help as many of you as possible and to provide options, including a full refund or re-booking to a different date of travel or alternative airline.

“We continue to be available for constructive talks with Balpa, on the basis that there are no pre-conditions to those talks.

“If you have a flight booked with us on those dates, it is likely that you will not be able to travel as planned due to Balpa’s strike action.

“We are offering all affected customers full refunds or the option to re-book to another date of travel or alternative airline.”

Pilots are striking following a disagreement over pay.

A spokesman for Balpa said the action was a “last resort” and its members felt “enormous frustration” towards management staff at British Airways.

The BA spokesman said: “We proposed an offer of 11.5 per cent over three years to Balpa, a deal already accepted by members of the Unite and GMB unions, which represent 90 per cent of British Airways’ staff, a deal which we believe is fair.”

A statement from Balpa on Thursday said the union would call off the strike if the airline “agrees to negotiate on a new proposal”.

Balpa general secretary Brian Strutton said: “Our members’ resolve is very strong and they remain very angry with BA but they also want to leave no stone unturned in trying to find a resolution to their dispute.

“Avoiding strike action and agreeing a deal with their pilots surely must be the desired outcome for British Airways.”

British Airways has said it is “ready and willing to return to talks with Balpa”.