In the shadow of the Royal Mail’s industrial action British Airways have been desperate to tell customers that it will be business as usual in the period leading up to Christmas. Unite, the union that represents the interests of the airline’s cabin crew, has announced that it may be asking 14,000 members to take part in industrial action. The decision comes in the wake of BA announcing that it intends to put a two year freeze on pay and reduce cabin staff by one in eight.

A spokesperson for British Airways says that the airline has no intention of going on strike and wished to assure customers that they were doing everything in their power to avoid any disruption. BA said that it would be running its full operation throughout the festive period. BA has also said that they would stay on course and push the unpopular decisions through by November 16^th.

The airline has reported losses this year of £401 million and its chief executive, Willie Walsh says that it is battling to survive. The new pay freezes and staff cuts are predicted to save the airline in the region of £140 million each year.

Joint general secretary of Unite, Derek Simpson has said that whilst being prepared to negotiate with BA in order to avoid any industrial action, they are not prepared to accept terms imposed on union members by the airline. He also said that the union would fully support members who chose to take action.

BA has defended its moves by saying that its cabin crews are already the best paid in the country and that many other airlines were taking similar cost cutting actions in the light of the economic downturn.