The threat of renewed strikes is hanging over British Airways after cabin crew said they were prepared to take industrial action after their pay claims were rejected.
In a consultative ballot last week among members of the mixed fleet, 95% of crew who voted said they would go on strike, the Guardian reported.
About a third of the eligible crew voted in the ballot, taken to gauge feeling in a fleet which unionised rapidly under the Unite union in 2012.
The mixed fleet is a predominantly younger crew, employed under inferior terms and conditions to pre-existing crew.
The fleet was set up in 2010 during the last wave of industrial action at the airline, when cost-cutting led to 22 days of walkouts.
Unions claim many BA cabin crew are now reliant on working tax credits to supplement basic salaries, believed to be a little over £12,000 a year, though the airline says earnings should reach around £20,000 with full-flying rosters, according to the newspaper.
BA has offered a pay rise in line with inflation to other cabin crew on pre-2010 contracts, who work exclusively either long-haul or short-haul in the worldwide or European fleets.
The new flexible crew had been hoping to close the wage gap with their better-paid colleagues and counterparts, but have made no progress.
A BA spokesman told the Guardian: “Our cabin crew positions attract a high level of applicants due to the competitive package offered, our extensive route network and promotional opportunities.
“We are currently conducting pay talks with all parts of the airline and any talk of industrial action by one of four cabin crew groups is completely speculative.”