British Airways is facing the prospect of crippling strikes by its cabin crew after talks aimed at resolving a bitter row over cost-cutting broke down.

Hopes of a breakthrough in the long-running dispute collapsed last night when marathon talks ended without agreement.

Officials from Unite will meet today to discuss their next move, and are set to announce strike dates.

The union's 12,500 cabin crew members voted twice voted for industrial action, but a walkout over Christmas was halted after a successful legal challenge from BA.

The union has ruled out striking over Easter. However, a walkout could come as early as March 18.

The two sides met for talks under the chairmanship of TUC general secretary Brendan Barber, who said no further meetings were planned.

Mr Barber said: "Both parties will be reflecting on the position and the TUC will be keeping in touch but at this stage no further negotiations are planned."

Unite said: "Management's offer went nowhere near addressing our members' concerns over crew numbers and service levels.

"Unite representatives will be meeting (today) to discuss the consequences of this breakdown. Should BA wish to make an improved offer, they have time to do so."

BA said it remained available for further negotiations but hopes of resurrecting talks were slim.

Earlier, Unite put forward a 10-page document it said contained possible savings of almost £63m, including a one-year pay freeze, followed by a pay cut of 2.6%.

BA said its package would save £62.5m a year and would not reduce the pay of existing crew.

The airline said the union's proposals fell "significantly short" of this level of savings and would lead to pay cuts of between £1,000 and £2,700 for crew - figures the union disputes.

Unite has until March 15 to announce industrial action which would threaten travel chaos for passengers.

BA chief executive Willie Walsh says BA would hire 23 fully-crewed planes from charter companies to help run flights from Heathrow in the event of industrial action.

Mr Walsh said flights from London's City airport, including long-haul services to New York, would operate normally, while 70% of cabin crew would work at Gatwick, meaning all long-haul and 50% of short-haul flights would not be affected.