LONDON — Three days after returning from their July 1 – 16 strike, British Airways’ mixed fleet cabin crew will be on strike all over again – for another two weeks.

The virtual back-to-back strike actions hit the airline at the heart of the summer travel season.

So far British Airways says it will operate 99.5% of its regular schedule during the almost month-long strike. BA is wet-leasing nine aircraft from Qatar Airways, using Qatar planes and crew, during the stroke action. The move prompted legal action from crew union Unite. “The wet leasing of Qatar Airways’ aircraft should not have been approved by the Government or been sought by British Airways,” said Unite’s national officer, Oliver Richardson.

“Today’s announcement of a further escalation, underlines the determination of our members in their fight for better pay and against British Airways’ bullying behavior,” Richardson.

However a spokesperson for British Airways said that “instead of calling further completely unnecessary strikes, Unite should allow its members a vote on the pay deal we reached two months ago.

“It seems extraordinary that a trade union should ask its members to give up their pay and benefits for virtually the whole of July, trying to target the holidays of hard-working families, rather than give those members a chance to settle the central issue of the dispute.

“British Airways will ensure all our customers reach their destinations. In the current strike period, we are operating 99.5% of our normal schedule.”