Virgin Atlantic has won a high court injunction to halt a series of planned strikes by pilots over the festive season.

A judge in London granted the order on Thursday against the Professional Pilots Union (PPU), which was due to launch the walkouts at Heathrow and Manchester airports on Saturday.

The airline sought an injunction to stop three four-day strikes over Christmas and the new year by members of the PPU, which wants the airline to recognise it so it can negotiate for pay and conditions on behalf of its members.

Virgin argued that the strike action was unlawful because the union failed to properly notify it of the number and category of employees the PPU was balloting for strike action, and the dates on which the strike would take place.

The airline’s barrister, John Cavanagh QC, said the categories of pilots involved in the action were particularly important as a plane could not fly unless there was a captain on board, and would “assist Virgin to prepare to deal with the disruption caused by the industrial action”.

Granting the injunction, Mr Justice Choudhury held that it was “necessary for the claimant to have some idea” of the categories of pilots who would be involved in the strike.