Back Print this page
Legalbrief   |   your legal news hub Friday 01 May 2026

BA to appeal ruling in favour of female pilot

British Airways is to appeal an Employment Tribunal ruling that said a female pilot could fly normal hours so that she could devote more time to childcare.

Jessica Starmer (26), a first officer, had just under 1 000 hours flying experience, although the airline says it is unsafe to allow pilots to work 50% of the time unless they have at least 2 000 hours, reports the Pretoria News. The airline\'s CE, Sir Rod Eddington, warned the sex discrimination case would deter airlines from taking on female flight crew. He said the company\'s regulations were drawn up on the advice of its senior pilots, were based on safety considerations and had nothing to do with sexual discrimination or any keenness on the airline\'s part to use a pilot to the maximum extent to recoup the cost of training. Full report in Pretoria News