Ahead of a possible strike by British Airways crew next month, the company's chief executive warns he will not compromise over cost-cutting measures.

In an interview published in the Financial Times on Monday, BA Chief executive Willie Walsh said the changes including voluntary redundancies and other moves aimed at saving 130 million pounds (214 million dollars) were essential to counter the airline's losses.

He added that the latest dispute was "very different" from one in January 2007, when a settlement with flight attendants, who had objected to sickpay and onboard staffing levels, prevented a strike.

"In 2007 I saw things that I wasn't happy with," Walsh said. "I saw there was some merit in the arguments that were being made; but no one should look for parallels this time around," he warned.

BA staff unions started balloting more than 12,000 of the airline's workers on a strike last week. There could be an action if they vote "yes".

MVZ/TG/DT