Officials from the Unite union will meet BAA today to try and resolve a pay dispute that threatens to bring six UK airports to a standstill.Union members that work for the airport operator are protesting about a "derisory" 1% pay increase offered by bosses.
Last year the union agreed to a pay freeze on the grounds that the company was suffering during the economic downturn.
However, with the green shots of recovery already visible, BAA workers are demanding a 2.5% pay increase.
BAA - which operates Heathrow, Stansted, Southampton, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen airports - has said this is not feasible after the business took a financial blow to the tune of £6 million per day during the ash cloud crisis in spring.
If an agreement is not reached today workers could walk out as early as next week.
Airport operators at Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham and Luton would undoubtedly benefit if BAA staff were to follow through with industrial action.