Mrs Starmer and her husband are now expecting their second child

Jessica Starmer, 26, from Wareham in Dorset, won a claim for indirect sex discrimination in April.

An appeal by BA was rejected at an Employment Appeal Tribunal on Thursday.

Ms Starmer wanted to cut her working hours in half to spend more time with her one-year-old daughter Beth. BA said it was disappointed by the ruling.

The firm has now submitted an application for leave to appeal to the Court of Appeal.

The tribunal's decision is great news for millions of women in Britain Jenny Watson, Equal Opportunities Commission

Mrs Starmer, who is expecting another baby and still works for BA, said: "I am pleased with the result but extremely disappointed that an appeal will leave me uncertain on how I am going to balance my parental responsibilities and career."

BA had told the tribunal its original decision was based on safety, rather than gender.

It said pilots should have at least 2,000 flying hours before reducing their working hours to below 75%.

BA told the appeal tribunal it had "huge concerns" about the approach of the original tribunal to safety and stressed it was sympathetic to people with childcare requirements.

The British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa), which represented Ms Starmer, said it was "delighted" with the ruling.

'Talents denied'

Captain Mervyn Granshaw, chairman of Balpa, said: "The appeal decision could not be clearer.

"Flight safety is not on trial in this case - an argument put forward by BA late in the day after Jessica's application for part time working so she could look after her young child was rejected by them."

Jenny Watson, acting chairwoman of the Equal Opportunities Commission, said: "The tribunal's decision is great news for millions of women in Britain juggling their careers with their responsibilities at home, too many of whom are denied from using their talents to the full."

Mrs Starmer currently works for BA on 75% hours. Her husband Simon is also a pilot with the airline.