PRESSURE on British Airways cabin crew to call off a series of strikes intensified last night after the Prime Minister said the action was “unjustified” and “deplorable”.

The airline also announced plans to keep 60% of its customers flying if the stoppages go ahead.

A bitter war of words between the airline and Unite increased – with BA claiming chief executive Willie Walsh waited at the offices of the conciliation services Acas over the weekend for talks but the union failed to turn up.

Unite vehemently denied this as “total nonsense” and said it had not been asked to attend talks.

Gordon Brown unexpectedly spoke out, calling on Unite to call off its three-day strike due to start on Saturday as well as a four-day walkout from the following weekend.

Transport Secretary Lord Adonis had said the industrial action could put the future of the airline at risk, calling the walk-outs “totally unjustified”.

The dispute has embroiled the Government in an extraordinary row with the country’s biggest union Unite – one of Labour’s biggest donors.

Asked in an interview with BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour whether Lord Adonis was right, Mr Brown said: “It is the wrong time, it is unjustified, it is deplorable, we shouldn’t have a strike.

“It is not in the company’s interest, it is not in the workers’ interest and it is certainly not in the national interest.”

Customers were advised to check ba.com to see if their flight is still operating before arriving at the airport.

Unite’s joint leader Tony Woodley urged BA to put back on the table an offer it withdrew on Friday after the union had announced the strikes.

He accused BA of wanting a “war” with the union and said withdrawing the offer was “irresponsible”, adding: “Put the offer back on the table and we will look sensibly at suspending the strike and hopefully find a long-term solution to a very difficult subject.”

DAVID HIGGERSON: PAGE 20