UK airline bmi said on Wednesday that some pilots at its no-frills division, bmibaby, had voted for strike action but it hoped to avoid industrial action.

Bmi said in a statement that 47 percent of bmi baby's 189 pilots voted for a strike following a poll of members by the British Air Line Pilots' Association (BALPA).

"BALPA have requested a meeting with us to attempt to find a way through the dispute and we are reflecting on that proposal," the airline said.

Bmi, which was forced to cancel flights along with other airlines during the past week due to heightened security at airports, said its customers should not change their travel plans.

BALPA is disputing a forced 2.4 percent pay rise for bmi staff.