International body discussion on potential increase in retirement age for airline pilots: implications and potential impacts
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has proposed a contentious change that could impact the aviation industry: raising the retirement age for airline pilots from 65 to 67. This proposal, put forward in a working paper submitted in late August, has already met stiff resistance from pilot unions.
The IATA argues that health data and medical advances support this proposed change. They note that pilots must pass regular medical exams and that some countries already let pilots continue flying past 65 without obvious safety problems. The organisation suggests that any crew with a pilot over 65 should also include another pilot under 65 to provide a safeguard against in-flight medical risks.
However, union leaders argue against raising the retirement age for pilots, citing potential cognitive and medical risks for pilots in their late 60s. The Allied Pilots Association, which represents American Airlines pilots, and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), which represents over 77,000 pilots in the US and Canada, have both expressed concerns about the proposal. The International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations (IFALPA) rejected the IATA proposal during the ICAO General Assembly in Montreal in early October 2025.
The IATA says that this change would help airlines keep experienced pilots in the cockpit at a time when shortages threaten to limit air travel growth around the world. Union leaders, on the other hand, warn that delaying retirement ages could slow promotions, complicate scheduling, and impact training opportunities for younger pilots.
In the United States, pilots flying under Part 91 and 135 can continue flying indefinitely so long as they pass the required medical exams. Internationally, similar frameworks allow business jet and many other pilots to keep flying without an upper age limit, again contingent on medical certification.
Safety experts caution that the scale and complexity of airline operations raise the stakes, which is why stricter limits are needed for airline crews. The ICAO General Assembly, meeting in Montreal from September 23 to October 3, 2025, will debate the proposal and could vote to adopt it, amend it, or call for more study. The outcome could be a compromise or a delay while ICAO gathers more data.
Airlines argue that mandatory retirements are forcing skilled aviators out of cockpits just as demand for air travel is surging. The IATA's proposal, if adopted, could change this trend, but the final decision lies with each member country of the ICAO.
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