For once, the hope for a settlement between British Airways and its cabin crew members have finally been raised. This news comes just after the two sides have agreed to meet this week to try and reach another settlement over pay and work conditions.

This is now the first meeting between British Airways and its cabin crew since talks broke down last month. These talks ended up leading to the announcement of a 12 day strike over Christmas and the New Year. Of course, despite the meeting, the union has announced that they will continue to plan to hold a second ballot over potential strike action. This could be smart on the union’s part since talks have broken down so many times before.

The first strike was just barely averted by British Airways after it was able to win a court order to block the strike on the grounds that the ballot was invalid, because it had included staff who had already agreed to take a voluntary redundancy – pretty much meaning that the union had people voting on the ballot that no longer worked for British Airways.

The union remains opposed to reductions in cabin crew teams. Right now, British Airways has removed one steward from all flights and two from some long haul services. British Airways, meanwhile, says it is adamant that the changes that they introduced will remain in place.

If both sides are not going to give on their views a bit, then these talks will go no where. Right now British Airways has declined to say if Willie Walsh, who is the chief executive of the airline, would attend these new meetings.