Global Airlines Group Proposes Raising Pilot Retirement Age

Trade association argues demand for pilots exceeds supply.

Friday, August 29, 2025 at 10:00 AM ET

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Pilots in an aircraft flight deck. [Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is advocating for the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to raise the international age limit for commercial pilots from 65 to 67.
This proposal aims to address an alleged pilot shortage and meet the increasing demand for air travel, with IATA arguing it's a safe step given longer, healthier lifespans and precedents in countries without age limits.
The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), a major union, strongly opposes the change, citing concerns about maintaining existing aviation safety standards and noting that a similar U.S. proposal was recently rejected by Congress.

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The world’s largest airline trade association is pushing to raise the international age limit for commercial pilots from 65 to 67.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA), which represents over 350 airlines, including all of the U.S. legacy carriers, is asking the U.N.’s aviation body, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), to consider the change to help alleviate an alleged shortage of pilots.