LONDON - A STRIKE at British airports set for Monday has been called off after unions and employers agreed in principle to discuss the unilateral closure of a final salary pension scheme for airport employees.

The strike was the first of a series announced this month after the British Airports Authority declared that its final salary pension scheme would be closed to all new employees.

Unions said the decision to close the scheme had been taken without consultation and scheduled three days of strikes to take place on Jan. 7, 14 and 17, threatening the holiday plans of thousands of people.

'The company has agreed there will be proper discussions before any decision is reached on the future of the pension scheme,' a union spokesman said on Monday after eight hours of talks.

Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Southampton, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen airports would have been closed by Monday's strike.

A BAA spokesman said the two sides would meet again on Friday. -- REUTERS