British Airways "will endeavour to reinstate as many flights as we can" for its Tuesday and Wednesday schedules

, following plans to cancel large numbers of flights at London Heathrow and Gatwick airports. A threatened strike by the Transport and General Workers Union amid a contract dispute with the airline prompted the cancellations. The two sides reached an agreement today and the strike was called off. "Unfortunately, the decision has come too late to prevent disruption to the travel plans of tens of thousands of our customers," according to BA CEO Willie Walsh.