A British Airways check-in worker who refused to hide her cross necklace at work has lost her case for religious discrimination.

Nadia Eweida, 56, became embroiled in a highly public row with BA in 2006 after the airline asked that she tuck her cross necklace behind her scarf so that it would not show.

Ms Eweida took BA to an employment tribunal claiming the airline had discriminated against Christians by not allowing them to openly wear symbols of their faith whilst Muslim and Hindu employees were permitted to wear headscarves and turbans.

After a public backlash and widespread criticism from politicians and church leaders, including the Archbishop of Canterbury, BA changed its uniform policy to allow crosses on chains to be worn openly.

The tribunal panel ruled yesterday, however, that Ms Eweida, 56, was treated the same as any other employee would have been if they had broken the uniform policy.

"I'm very disappointed," she was quoted as saying by AFP news agency.

"The judge has given way for BA to have a victory on imposing their will on all their staff."

A BA spokesman said: "We are pleased that the tribunal's decision supports our position.
Our current policy allows symbols of faith to be worn openly and has been developed with multi-faith groups and our staff."

Eweida said she would be returning to her job at the BA check-in at Heathrow on Thursday wearing the cross.