Strike threat to Christmas flights

Strike ballot papers have been issued to 5,000 airport workers in a dispute which threatens to cancel hundreds of flights over Christmas and the New Year holidays.

Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted face shutdown on strike days.

Unite, Britain's largest union, expects "overwhelming support" for the action over pensions.

The result will be declared on Thursday, 20 December. The union must then give seven days' notice of any walkout meaning the first could take place from Thursday, 27 December.

Airport firefighters, security, maintenance and clerical staff are taking part in the ballot over plans by airport owner BAA to close its final salary pension scheme to new employees from Saturday.

Brendan Gold, Unite national secretary for civil aviation, said: "BAA has just posted profits of more than £500 million and its Spanish owner Ferrovial has seen its profits rise by nearly 60 per cent. It is clear that the pension scheme is financially sound and should be left alone."

Mr Gold said the workforce had "lost trust" in BAA and the the final salary scheme to new employees was being viewed as the "first step in axing the whole scheme for everyone".

A spokesman for BAA said the strike threat was "unnecessary" and the company wanted to continue to hold talks with the union.