British Airways will operate all its long-haul services to and from Heathrow during a three-day cabin crew strike this week and cancel a small number of short-haul flights, the airline has announced.

Members of the Unite union will take industrial action from Thursday in a long-running dispute over pay.

BA cancelled 44 flights last week because of a 48-hour stoppage by members of the so-called mixed fleet, which is made up of workers who have joined the airline since 2010.

BA said in a statement: "We have further strengthened our schedule for January 19-21, the days for which mixed fleet Unite has called strike action, and will fly all customers to their destinations.

"We will operate all our long-haul services to and from Heathrow and all services to and from Gatwick, London City and Stansted.

"We will merge a small number of our short-haul services at Heathrow, resulting in the cancellation of only 1% of our total scheduled flights across the three days. Customers affected will be able to fly slightly earlier or slightly later."

Unite claims the mixed fleet crew are on "poverty" pay rates, with many forced to take on second jobs or turn up for shifts if they are sick because they cannot afford to be off ill.

BA has said its pay offer for mixed fleet crew was consistent with deals agreed with Unite for other British Airways workers, reflected pay awards by other companies and will ensure rewards for mixed fleet remain in line with those for cabin crew at its competitors.

Unite said over 800 mixed fleet cabin crew workers have joined the union since the start of the dispute, taking membership to over 2,900.