British Airways plans to run at least half its services from Heathrow during the scheduled cabin crew strike next week.

It has also made arrangements with more than 50 other carriers to allow its customers disrupted by the five-day walk-out to rebook with them.

BA says it plans to run 60 per cent of long-haul and 50 per cent of short-haul flights from Heathrow during the strike.

Cabin crew union Unite says it is planning four strikes of five days each, with just one day between. This could lead to disrupting services for over three weeks.

BA said it plans to fly more than 60,000 customers each day of the strikes next week, adding that Gatwick and London City airports will not be affected by the industrial action.

The airline said it is still available to hold further talks with Unite but wants customers to have early warning of its flying schedule to allow sufficient time for alternative travel arrangements to be made.

Willie Walsh, BA’s chief executive, told The Telegraph: “Unite’s leaders have deliberately targeted the busy half-term holidays to cause as much disruption as possible for hard-working families looking to spend some well-earned time away.

“We are confident that many crew will ignore Unite’s pointless strike call and support the efforts of the airline to keep our customers flying.

“As the new Government starts addressing the enormous economic challenges facing the country, it is sad that Unite’s priority is to seek to damage Britain’s links with the world.”

“We remain absolutely determined to resolve the dispute and our door remains open to Unite, day or night. It is not too late for Unite to call off this action and protect its members’ job security.”