As neither side seems to be gaining any headway in the dispute between British Airways and cabin crew union Unite, the fight looks set to return to the courts. Unite said it intends to go to the Court of Appeal with a claim that BA’s staff reduction plans, the catalyst for the ongoing arguments, was actually a breach of contract.

BA has strongly denied to accusation pointing out that in February, the High Court ruled that the cost cutting measure was an acceptable one. A spokesman for the airline said it was prepared to fight against the accusation in the strongest possible terms.

As well as approaching the Appeals Court, Unite said it would be asking the European Court of Human Rights to look into how the Government deals with union ballots. BA was able to get an injunction against a proposed walk out because it claimed a number of the voting papers had been spoilt by union members making the whole vote invalid.

The union also intends to take up the matter of travel concessions with the High Court. Originally a dispute over staff reductions the fight between BA and Unite is now about the loss of travel perks to some 7,000 union members. BA initially told its staff that if they decided to walk out, they risked losing non-contractual concessions. Unite has been demanding that these perks be given back before any peace deal can be reached.

A spokesman for Unite said it was regrettable that the dispute would be returning to the legal arena, but added that BA’s unwillingness to compromise left no other choice.