British Airways has told its passengers not to turn up at airports as the biggest strike action in the airline’s 100 year history begins today.

More than 1,500 flights have been cancelled as the company was accused of bullying its own staff by union bosses, who warned they could continue the action until the end of the year.

Some 280,000 people will be affected by the strike which is set to continue on Tuesday, costing BA £80m in lost revenue.

BA and The British Airline Pilots’ Association (BALPA) are clashing after the union rejected a proposed 11.5 per cent pay rise for its pilots, taking their pay package to around £200,000 a year.

BALPA says that BA “has resorted to breaking agreements and threatening pilots who will strike, which is bound to make matters worse” after they emailed their 4,300 pilots on Friday warning that strike action would be a ‘serious breach’ of their contract.