Heathrow Airport will cancel 172 flights on Monday and Tuesday after thousands of workers rejected a pay offer.
The country’s busiest airport will cancel flights because of a planned 48-hour walkout by members of Unite.
The members voted by almost 9-1 to reject a pay offer the west London airport said was worth 7.3 per cent over two and a half years.
Crucial talks aimed at averting the strikes are set to take place today, with time running out to prevent industrial action going ahead.
An airport spokesman said: "We have activated contingency plans which will keep the airport open and safe on both strike days.
"We expect security queue times to be slightly longer than normal and advise passengers to check our website for detailed information on how to prepare for their flights and when to arrive at the airport.
"As part of our plans, we are working with airlines to proactively consolidate flights and rebook passengers onto alternative services in advance.
"We also advise passengers to contact their airlines for the latest information, as well as follow our Twitter and Facebook accounts for further updates."
More strikes are planned on August 23 and 24 if the dispute is not resolved.
