The jobs affected are held by white collar workers in the airlines business section.

The company says the latest redundancies would form part of the overall 5,000 job losses the company predicted in 2001.

The problems follow the global economic slowdown after 11 September.

Redundancies inevitable

Talks are being held with unions on Wednesday.

Mick Lomax, chief negotiator with the MSF, a branch of the Amicus union, said: "Any job losses are always going to be a disappointment .

"The company has given us the reasons why they think these jobs cuts are necessary.

"We are not at this time talking about redundancies, but we believe it is inevitable."