The move comes only 48 hours after the Unite union announced it is balloting its 12,000 Heathrow cabin crew members for strikes aimed at hitting thousands of families in the school holidays.

The recruits will be paid around £18,000 a year - less than the £26,000 that goes to existing short haul crew and the £35,000 to longhaul crew based at Heathrow - and will fly on BA's separate so-called 'new fleet' and not be mixed with existing crew.

Unite has held 22 strike days since March. Its members will vote on Tuesday on whether to launch walkouts over the loss of strikers' lucrative cut-price travel perks.