Jessica Starmer wanted to spend more time with her daughter

Jessica Starmer, 26, from Wareham in Dorset, won a claim for indirect sex discrimination after the firm refused her request to work 50% part-time.

The airline took its case to an Employment Appeal Tribunal, arguing that its decision was based on safety.

The tribunal is now to give its judgement at a later date.

Compromise plan

It had heard BA argue that Mrs Starmer had not clocked up enough flying hours to go part-time.

The company told the tribunal hearing in London that its pilots should have at least 2,000 flying hours before reducing their hours to 50%, which would be about eight days a month for Mrs Starmer.

Mrs Starmer, who is expecting another baby, won her claim for indirect sex discrimination at an employment tribunal in April.

Mrs Starmer's union, the British Airline Pilots Association, put forward a compromise plan to BA on Monday to prevent its appeal going ahead, but was unsuccessful.