British Airways is set to make up to 12,000 workers redundant, parent company IAG has announced.

The airline, which employs 42,000 people, has suffered from the global collapse in passenger numbers caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

IAG said BA will consult on a "restructuring and redundancy programme" as it is expected to take "several years" until demand for air travel returns to 2019 levels.

It added: "The proposals remain subject to consultation but it is likely that they will affect most of British Airways' employees and may result in the redundancy of up to 12,000 of them."

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In a letter to staff, BA chief executive Alex Cruz wrote: "In the last few weeks, the outlook for the aviation industry has worsened further and we must take action now.

"We are a strong, well-managed business that has faced into, and overcome, many crises in our hundred-year history.

"We must overcome this crisis ourselves, too.

"There is no Government bailout standing by for BA and we cannot expect the taxpayer to offset salaries indefinitely."

He went on: "We will see some airlines go out of business."

Around 4,500 pilots and 16,000 cabin crew work for BA.

IAG did not provide a breakdown of how many people in what roles could be made redundant.