LONDON (AP) — British Airways has failed to block pilots from going on strike in a long-standing pay dispute.

The airline lost a bid in the Court of Appeal on Wednesday seeking a temporary injunction to prevent strikes by pilots based at London's Heathrow and Gatwick airports. The pilots overwhelmingly voted to back industrial action last week.

The pilots have not yet announced strike dates, but the airlines' lawyers have said it was likely to commence on or about Aug. 7.

The union accuses BA of making massive profits on the expense of those who made sacrifice during hard times. The airline says the pilots have received a fair pay offer and want to inflict "the maximum in disruption," costing the airline up to 40 million pounds ($48 million) a day.