Hundreds of British Airways flights could be grounded in the coming weeks after cabin crew yesterday overwhelmingly backed calls for the first official strike in nearly ten years.

More than 8,100 workers balloted by union leaders — 96 per cent — have voted for industrial action over pay, sick leave and pension benefits.

The Transport and General Workers’ Union (T&G) said the strong vote showed its members had “been pushed too far”.

BA flies more than 350 services a day out of Heathrow and Gatwick and a walkout could cripple the airline.

BA chiefs will hold crisis talks with Jack Dromey, the T&G deputy general secretary, today.

The airline said any action would be “completely unnecessary” and criticised shop stewards for creating a “worrying time for customers and staff”.

The T&G last night insisted that it wanted to “resolve the dispute through negotiation”. But an insider said that cabin crew were furious over a series of measures imposed by BA over the past two years.

He told The Times: “This is not union militancy, this is a revolt by middle England. The cabin crew have had enough.”

The T&G claims that staff have been put under pressure to turn up for work when they are ill. It says new salary bands mean pay is essentially being capped for nearly half the workforce. Starting salaries have fallen to £10,500.

The ballot result is the latest blow for BA. On Friday, the GMB said its members could strike after unanimously rejecting BA’s pension proposals designed to tackle the £2.1 billion deficit in the airline’s retirement fund. The shares fell 1.5 per cent yesterday.

Willie Walsh, chief executive, has insisted that changes are necessary to make it more competitive and is desperate to push them through.

In a statement yesterday, the airline said: “We are very disappointed by the T&G’s threat of what would be completely unnecessary industrial action.

“The union says that one of its key concerns is pensions — yet we have just concluded 16 months of talks by accepting a proposal put forward by the T&G and our other unions.

“On that basis alone, we believe the T&G should pause to reflect before threatening the travel plans of our customers.’’

Times Recommends

• Lies and cover-up at MG Rover exposed by report
• High oil prices push manufacturing costs up
• Primark founder steps down as chief executive