Unite decision:British Airways full statement

A 12-day strike would be completely unjustified and a huge over-reaction to the modest changes we have announced for cabin crew which are intended to help us recover from record financial losses.

Unite's cynical decision betrays a total lack of concern for our customers, our business and other employees within British Airways.

Thousands of staff across the company have made contributions to the cost reductions that are essential to move the company back toward profitability. Our cabin crew, who are rightly renowned for their professionalism and skills, cannot be exempt from this process.

Our package for them is very fair and reasonable. It reduces no-one's terms and conditions, and gives most crew pay rises of between two and seven per cent this year and next year. British Airways' cabin crew are already the best rewarded in the UK airline industry.

Unite says we 'imposed' this package, but it was discussed with them for nine months and is largely based on meeting voluntary applications for part-time working and redundancy.

We will not be withdrawing the minor changes we have made to onboard crew numbers from Heathrow, which bring crewing levels into line with equivalent flights from Gatwick. Crew numbers at Gatwick have been in place for many years with Unite's agreement.

We have made clear to Unite that we want them to talk to us about their ideas for the recruitment of new crew in future when the business is in a position to grow. That invitation remains open.

Unite's claim that changing onboard crew numbers from Heathrow is a contractual issue, with which we disagree, will be resolved by the courts in February. A 12-day strike over Christmas and New Year can have no effect in determining this issue.

Willie Walsh, British Airways chief executive, said: "A strike is senseless - and we urge Unite to draw back. We will not be reversing our changes to onboard crew numbers. They have allowed us to accept more than 1,000 requests for voluntary redundancy - and those former colleagues have left the business.

"Unite must understand that there can be no return to the old, inefficient ways if we want to ensure long-term survival in the interests of our customers, shareholders and all our staff.

"They have no justification for threatening such extreme action. It is very sad that they are seeking to use the Christmas holiday plans and family reunions of hundreds of thousands of people to try to pursue their case."