THEY should weigh no more than eight stone, be younger than 26, and display "the bloom that goes with perfect health", said a New York Times article in 1936.

But times have changed and now air hostesses are being freed from rigid beauty standards, as high heels, compulsory skirts, and now make up are no longer part of their compulsory dress codes.

In just the latest sign that the traditional "trolley dolly" is dead, Virgin Atlantic has become the first premier airline to tell female cabin crew that they will no longer have to wear makeup in the air.

It will also provide female crew with trousers as part of their standard uniform to wear instead of a skirt. Until now trousers have only been available if female staff specially request them.

The move will by seen by many as going some way towards addressing a gaping gender equality problem within the aviation industry, which spans everything from uniform to pay and workers' rights.