THE Government was embroiled in a row with the country’s biggest union last night after a cabinet minister launched an extraordinary attack against a planned strike by British Airways cabin crew.

Transport Secretary Lord Adonis said the planned seven days of industrial action could put the future of the airline at risk, calling the walkouts “totally unjustified.”

Unite hit back at the minister, saying he was “badly informed” about the long-running dispute, adding that he should be urging the airline to reinstate an offer it withdrew last week.

Privately, union officials were said to be “livid” with Lord Adonis, one saying he had “blundered” into the dispute without knowing all the facts.

Lord Adonis appealed to Unite to return to the negotiating table in an attempt to avert the industrial action planned to begin with a three-day strike from next Saturday, followed by a four day stoppage from the following weekend.

Lord Adonis told BBC1’s Andrew Marr show: “The impact this will have will not only be deeply damaging on passengers, it will ... threaten the very existence of British Airways.

“It’s totally unjustified on the merits of the issues at stake. I do call on the union to engage constructively with the company at this late stage.”

A Unite spokesman said: “Lord Adonis appears badly informed. We all want to avoid strike action and Unite is always ready to negotiate.”

A BA spokesman welcomed the comments by Lord Adonis, adding: “We agree with his position that the strike is disproportionate and unjustified.”