British Airways has been accused of "swerving responsibility" for a massive data breach by trying to limit compensation payouts for victims, lawyers claim.

Up to 600,000 customers were affected by the 2018 cyber attack after hackers managed to intercept the details of those who made bookings through the BA website, threatening their financial security.

The airline has now applied to launch its own class action for victims but it includes a 17-week time limit for claimants to join.

Lawyers branded the move “unprecedented” and warned the “cynical” action was designed to limit a potential £3bn payout to customers.

It is just the latest in a string of scandals to hit the airline, coming just days after it was crippled by strike action in an ongoing pay dispute with pilots.

A further 24-hour walkout is planned by the union Balpa for September 27.

Meanwhile, climate change activist group Heathrow Pause is plotting to shut down the airport tomorrow by flying drones within its no-fly zone.

Some 185,000 BA customers are believed to have had their details compromised between April and July last year, while a further 380,000 were affected by the breach between August and September.

Details taken included their name, billing address, email address and card payment information, including in tens of thousands of cases their cvv security code.