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) proposes raising the international commercial pilot age limit from 65 to 67 to alleviate a pilot shortage and meet increasing air travel demand.
IATA argues the change is safe, citing longer, healthier pilot lives and other countries with no upper age limit without increased safety incidents, while recommending pairing older pilots with younger ones.
The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) opposes the proposal, emphasizing current U.S. aviation safety standards and noting previous Congressional rejections of similar age limit changes.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is set to consider IATA's proposal during its General Assembly in September.

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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.