British Airways flights to and from Bermuda at the end of January and in early to mid-February are likely to be affected by three 72-hour strikes of cabin crew announced after BA management and union officials failed to reach agreement in a dispute over sickness absence rules, pay and staffing levels.

The break-down in negotiations at the weekend now means a strike will take place on January 29, 30, and 31, followed by further strike disruption on February 5, 6, and 7, and February 12,13, and 14.

Because there is no Monday service to Bermuda during the winter season, travellers to the Island will only face disruption on the Tuesdays and Wednesdays during each of the Monday-Wednesday strike periods.

Last night British Airways' spokeswoman in Bermuda, Marianne Wilcox, said passengers booked to travel between January 29 and February 16 can re-book on alternative dates either before or after the scheduled strikes.

She added: "We are not sure how it will affect Bermuda. There is still a week in which the union will be encouraged to resume talks with management. At the moment we do not know how the strike action will affect Gatwick, where the Bermuda flights originate."

The dispute involves new sickness absence rules, which the Transport and General Workers Union says forces staff to continue to work even when they are genuinely ill, as well as pay and staffing levels.

In a statement BA said: "We remain committed to the search for a peaceful outcome to this dispute and we urge the union to withdraw this totally unjustified strike threat to give negotiations the fullest chance of success."