British Airways is told hold fresh talks with trade unions in a bid to avert a threatened two-day strike next week, the two sides said in a joint statement.

The talks will take place Saturday as the airline struggles to head off the threat of having to cancel all flights to and from London's Heathrow airport next Tuesday and Wednesday because of a strike by cabin crew.

The action will also hit domestic and European flights from Gatwick and is expected to cost the airline millions, as well as creating havoc for passengers.

When the strike, which will cut over 1,000 flights, was announced, it sent the carrier's share price down more than two percent.

In a statement posted on the BA website, it was announced that talks between the company and the Transport and General Workers' Union would resume. They had previously met during Thursday and Friday.

The planned strike, which will likely involve 11,000 stewards and stewardesses, is being called as part of a dispute over sickness absence, pay and staffing.

Unions have warned that there will be two more three-day work stoppages in February if the dispute remains unresolved.