What Different Nations Are Saying About Raising Pilot Retirement Age

IATA proposal to extend careers sparks a contentious debate at the ICAO General Assembly.

Ryan Ewing

Friday, September 26, 2025 at 01:39 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Pilots in the flight deck [Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) proposed raising the age limit for multipilot commercial air transport pilots from 65 to 67, arguing it would have no impact on safety and reflects modern medical understanding.
The proposal received mixed international reactions, with some states supporting it as a pragmatic measure for workforce issues, while others (including India and China) and pilot associations voiced strong safety concerns, citing potential risks and a lack of scientific data.
The ICAO Secretariat and Commission noted that current medical science on raising the age limit is inconclusive, highlighting the need for more data collection and the development of harmonized medical oversight frameworks to support any future global increase safely.

See a mistake? Contact us.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) presented a proposal to raise the age limit for multipilot commercial air transport pilots from 65 to 67 at the 42nd ICAO General Assembly in Montreal.

The proposal, introduced during the technical commission meeting on Thursday, aims to follow the same approach used in 2006 when the age limit was previously increased from 60 to 65.