British Airways has put forward a three year pay deal

The move comes after a two-week "cooling period" supposedly failed to resolve a pay dispute affecting around 8,000 workers at UK airports.

BA claims it put forward a three-year deal worth 8.5%, or 10.5% if the money did not count towards pensions.

But the Transport and General Workers Union is not happy with the deal and is considering further options.

The union said strike action is one possibility but it may also refer to a third party to help negotiate a deal.

TGWU national officer, Brendan Gold, said: "We recognise that the aviation market is a tough one, but BA has to realise that the contribution of these key groups of workers needs to be valued.

"It is disappointing that pay talks have broken down and we are therefore looking at the options open to us, but we are still hopeful of a negotiated settlement."

Last summer, check-in workers staged an unofficial walkout at Heathrow airport in protest over working conditions.