Union calls off BA strike action

A planned two-day strike by thousands of British Airways cabin crew has been called off.

Marathon talks between BA and the Transport and General Workers Union (T&G) had been going on to try to avert the stoppages on Tuesday and Wednesday.

BA executives and union leaders said an agreement had been reached on the key issues of pay, pensions and the management of sickness absence.

BA said all long-haul flights from Heathrow and Gatwick would go ahead.

It will now attempt to reinstate as many domestic and European flights as possible – but said the agreement had come too late to prevent disruption to “tens of thousands” of passengers.

Two potential 72-hour strikes earmarked for February have also been called off.