Etihad Airways and Emirates Airline have cancelled five flights to and from the UK tomorrow due to a strike in Britain.

UK Border Agency staff are embarking on 24-hour industrial action that is likely to cause long delays in clearing immigration.

Etihad flights EY019 and EY017 from Abu Dhabi to London Heathrow Airport and EY020 London Heathrow to Abu Dhabi have been cancelled, the carrier said. Emirates has cancelled flight EK029 from Dubai to Heathrow and EK030, which makes the return journey on the same day.

Sanctions imposed by the Arab League this week on Syria, which include a ban on commercial flights, are also expected to cause disruption to flights to and from Damascus.