The airline has been in negotiation with the British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa), which is thought to represent about 60% of its pilots, over allowances and expenses paid to pilots as part of their job.
The move has angered representatives of the Professional Pilots Union (PPU), who claim to represent as many as 280 of the airline’s 900 pilots but have been left out of the talks.
Now, the PPU is conducting a ballot of members, which could see a strike in a month’s time at the earliest, although a spokesperson added they have been heartened by an apparent change of heart by Virgin.
