London: Thousands of British Airways cabin crew plan to stage a two-day strike at the end of the month after talks between the carrier and its largest union broke down overnight, BA said on Thursday.
Europe's third-largest airline, however, called on the Transport and General Workers' Union (T&G) to reverse its decision and seek a peaceful deal to address BA's pension deficit and approve new working conditions.
''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,'' BA Chief Executive Willie Walsh said in a statement.
''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,'' he added.
A union spokesman was not immediately available for comment. The decision came after more than 24 hours of talks.
On Wednesday, the T&G called off the first day of what had been billed as a 72-hour walkout.
A BA spokeswoman said 11,000 of the carrier's 15,000 cabin crew staff were members of the union.
The company plans to announce its timetable for the two days affected by the walkout - January 30 and 31 - later.
(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest)
More on IBNLive Right Now
TOP NEWS
MOST SHARED
PHOTOGALLERY
