British Airways is expecting to run a “full flying programme’’ from its UK airports after striking a last-minute deal with unions and averting a crippling two-day cabin crew strike.“Unfortunately some services at Heathrow may not have a full catering service onboard during Tuesday due to the late reinstatement of the flight schedule,” BA said in a statement.

“Any affected customers on those flights which do not have full catering will be offered vouchers to spend in the airport.”

British Airlines has been trying to reinstate hundreds of flights cancelled, although the airline conceeded that the eleventh-hour agreement had come ‘too late’’ to avoid disrupting some flights.

The deal with the Transport and General Workers Union was finally nailed down after more than 120 hours of talks with BA.

Negotiators remained inside a central London hotel throughout the weekend to thrash out an agreement on sickness absence, pay, staffing and pensions, according to the Press Association.

Under the deal, cabin crew will receive a two-year wage rise worth 4.6% this year and the rate of inflation in year two.

A pay ‘ceiling’’ on cabin crew who joined the company after 1997 has been removed, increasing wages from £15,748 to £19,418 when the 4.6% is paid.

Union officials also said they were now happy that the airline’s sickness absence policy, introduced 18 months ago, would be implemented fairly.
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