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The threat of strikes at British Airways in the peak summer holiday period moved closer after talks between the airline and cabin crew at conciliation service Acas came to nothing. Acas made fresh proposals to resolve the conflict over BA’s withdrawal of travel concessions after cabin crew ended a series of stoppages last week. But in a statement on the 16th an Acas spokesman said: “Regrettably, the parties were unable to move closer to an agreement.”

At present there are no further meetings planned. However, both sides insisted they remain committed to finding a settlement. A Unite spokesman said the union would not move immediately to hold a fresh ballot. “We are not close to actually balloting,” he said. Legal requirements of the ballot process mean any new strikes are likely in August and certainly no earlier than late July.

The 22 days of strikes far have cost BA £150 million, leading Acas chief conciliator Peter Harwood to describe the dispute as “very damaging for all”.

The strikes began in March over changes to crewing on long haul flights.