British Airways is so desperate for cabin crew that is trying to lure staff from rival airlines with a £1,000 welcome bonus.

The airline has been forced to cancel hundreds of flights over the past few weeks due to staff severe staff shortages, a problem which is being compounded by the amount of time it is taking for new recruits to clear security.

To speed up the process, it is looking for staff who already hold airside ID for London Heathrow or London Stansted airports.

The airline’s job advertisement says: “As the world opens up, British Airways is offering an exciting opportunity to work with an incredible team of diverse individuals, in delivering the best of British customer service and as a current airside ID holder, you can move more quickly through our pre-employment checks and start your training sooner.

“We encourage and welcome individuals from all walks of life to apply and help shape the future of the airline and as you’re already familiar with the airline industry, there’s never been a better time to take flight with BA.”

Successful candidates can earn up to £28k a year and they’ll receive a ‘sign on’ bonus of  £1,000, with £500 paid after three months and a further £500 paid six months after they start.

BA is in a hurry for new recruits to start flying from May, and it says candidates with a notice period that will prevent them from starting their training by July at the latest ‘may not be eligible for the welcome bonus’.