TALKS are to continue next week between Thomas Cook Airlines and the Unite union over plans by the company to make 498 cabin crew redundant.

Talks resumed earlier this week after crew members flying out of 10 airports, including Stansted, voted in a consultative ballot in favour of industrial action.

Further discussions will now take place on November 9.

Mick Whitley, regional officer at Unite, which Unite represents about 1,150 of the 1,800-strong cabin crew workforce at Thomas Cook, said: “Further talks will be held next Wednesday and Unite won’t be making any comment until after those consultations have been concluded.”

Thomas Cook is planning to reduce the size of its aircraft fleet and abolish the rank of assistant cabin manager.

Unite has been seeking enhanced redundancy terms for the staff affected, but talks with the company broke down ahead of last month’s consultative ballot, which saw a total of 475 cabin crew voted in favour of industrial action, with 53 against.

At the time, Mr Whitley result should be a “wake-up call” for the company’s management to improve its offer.

A spokeswoman for Thomas Cook Airlines, which entered into a 90-day consultation with employees in September following a proposal to reduce its airline fleet from 41 to 35 aircraft, responded by saying it remained “committed to continuing meaningful consultation” with its employees and their representatives, and to seeking opportunities to reduce the number of job losses.

If no agreement is reached, a further ballot would have to be held to approve any strike action.