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British Airways cabin crew today began three days of strike action after last-ditch talks between BA and the Unite union failed to reach a deal.

Unite said early indications were that its 12,000 members were supporting the walkout, which was spurred by BA's decision to cut the number of cabin crew on every flight.

BA said Heathrow and Gatwick had got off to a good start and London City was operating as normal.

The airline plans to run 50% of its short-haul Gatwick services, about 60% of its Heathrow long-haul services and about 30% of its Heathrow short-haul flights.

BA has arranged with more than 60 other airlines to take its customers on their flights on the first strike days. It also has use of 23 fully crewed planes leased from other companies.

A BA spokesman said: "Cabin crew are operating as normal at Gatwick and the numbers reporting at Heathrow are above the levels we need to operate our publishing schedule.

"This is the biggest contingency plan we have ever launched."

Picket lines have been set up at Heathrow, but early reports said the airport was much quieter than usual.

Another four days of industrial action are set to begin on 27 March and further action is expected from mid-April unless the deadlock is broken.