EasyJet pilots have voted "overwhelmingly" in favour of industrial action over fatigue, the British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) said on Wednesday (21 September).

"BALPA members in easyJet have voted overwhelmingly in favour of taking industrial action in a dispute over pilot fatigue," said BALPA General Secretary Brian Strutton.

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"In a ballot which closed today, 96% voted for some form of industrial action on a turnout of 88%."

Strutton added the budget airline had offered to continue negotiations in a bid to find a solution to the ongoing dispute.

"BALPA has now received a last minute offer from easyJet to resolve the dispute and we will consider this carefully in meetings tomorrow before taking any further decisions," he said.

"For clarity that means there are no plans for pilots taking industrial action in easyJet at this stage. We will issue further information tomorrow."

Earlier this month, the association revealed pilots at the Luton-based carrier would be balloted for industrial action after complaining of rising level of fatigue.

"EasyJet can reassure its passengers that no industrial action is currently planned by its UK pilots," the airline said at the time. "Although Balpa has informed us they are balloting their members, easyJet and Balpa continue to work together."

If pilots do decide to walk out, it would be a first for the airline founded by the Greek Cypriot businessman Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou in 1995.

Unions and EasyJet had been in talks for more than a year, though these broke down in August and prompted the current ballot.

More to follow...