The British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa) said its members voted by more than nine to one in favour of the pay cut, as well as a reduction of 20% in some allowances.

Balpa said the turnout in the ballot was 83%.

The decision by the union Balpa comes ahead of Tuesday's AGM in which BA workers are expected to take live lemmings to the meeting in protest against the way the company is being managed.

The animals will be paraded in cages by union activists who are angry at the firm's plans to axe jobs to save money.

BA faces a stormy summer with staff unwilling to accept the company's proposed jobs cuts and pay freezes.

Chief executive Willie Walsh has warned that BA is facing a fight for survival and wants unions to agree to 3,700 job cuts and a two-year pay freeze as well as changes to working conditions.

Talks passed without a deal on June 30 and are continuing this week.

It emerged over the weekend that Mr Walsh has won backing for a potential rights issue from the firm's biggest shareholders.

One analyst said the airline could be forced to call on shareholders for up to £500m to shore up its finances.

BA made a loss of £400m last year as the industry was hit by a downturn in travel because of the recession.