BRITISH Airways and thousands of its passengers face a summer of crippling strikes after cabin crew yesterday voted overwhelmingly for industrial action over a pay and conditions deal.

Crew members voted nearly three to one in favour of action and their union, the Transport and General Workers Union, will decide next week what form the action will take.

BA chief executive Mr Bob Ayling said he would not allow "1970s style trade unionism" to stand in the way of running services.