British Airways passengers face disruption over the Christmas and New Year period after cabin crew voted in favour of strikes.

Action could begin as early as next Wednesday, according to reports in the British media, after Unite members backed walkouts by 4-1.

The BBC reported that more than 2,000 workers were balloted about the plan to strike at Heathrow Airport, after cabin crew rejected a 2 per cent pay rise.

A British Airways spokesman said: “We are extremely disappointed that the union is creating uncertainty for our customers.”

The union said that 1,519 staff had voted in the ballot, of whom 1,206, or 80 per cent, voted in favour of strike action.

It claimed earnings were advertised between £21,000 and £25,000 but in reality started at just over £12,000 plus £3 an hour flying pay.

Unite regional officer Matt Smith was quoted: “Our members have overwhelmingly voted for strike action because British Airways’ pay rates are indefensible and the crew are at breaking point.

“Mixed Fleet crew earn just over the minimum wage and below the national average. Significant numbers of crew are taking on second jobs, many go to work unfit to fly because they can’t afford to be sick. British Airways bosses need to wake up to the anger and the injustice here.

“Not only are the pay rates indefensible but, in aviation, low pay is a safety issue. Thirty per cent of the Mixed Fleet crew have been with the company for just under a year.

“Crew simply can’t afford to stay. Inexperience, fatigue, and the fact that BA recently cut the length of crew training courses means Unite is genuinely concerned about the potential repercussions.

“We urge British Airways to avoid this dispute and do the right thing by both the frontline staff and the travelling public, by engaging with Unite to negotiate a genuinely meaningful way forward.”

The BA spokesman added: “Mixed Fleet Unite represents about 15 per cent of our cabin crew. We remain focused on resolving this issue as quickly as possible without any disruption to customers.

“We have proposed a fair and reasonable pay increase to Mixed Fleet cabin crew which is in line with that accepted by other British Airways colleagues and which will ensure their reward levels remain in line with cabin crew at our airline competitors.”