British Airways boss Willie Walsh has apologised for the disruption caused by a three-day cabin crew strike that began today.

The stoppage is expected to affect some 25,000 passengers travelling this weekend. BA nevertheless expects around 60 percent of travellers will be able to reach their destination.

To replace cancelled flights, BA is hiring planes and crew of other airlines. The move has met with criticism from the Dutch cabin crew union, which has denounced the work as tainted.

The BA cabin crews are staging the stoppage to demand higher pay and assurances against forced sackings.