British Airways cabin crew are to walk out at midnight as last-ditch talks to prevent a strike broke down.
The three-day industrial action comes after talks between BA chief executive Willie Walsh and leaders of the Unite union failed to find a solution to the dispute.
A second four-day strike is planned for March 27 with 12,000 cabin crew involved.
BA has contigency plans in place in an attempt to carry 65% of passengers during the three-day strike this weekend.
Vounteers have come forward to work on flights and the airline has chartered in aircraft to run services that would otherwise be grounded.
But the strike, described by Walsh as "deeply regrettable", will mean that 1,100 flights out of 1,950 scheduled will be cancelled during the first three-day walk out.
by Phil Davies
