In a bid to counterbalance the growing popularity of air travel and the lack of commercial airline pilots, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has submitted a proposal to the U.N.’s International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to raise the international pilot retirement age to 67.
Since the start of aviation, a lot has changed as far as pilot retirement goes. Back in the 1920s, people were forced to step down at the age of 45. As of 1947, that number was raised to 60 and in 2006, a last change was implemented, putting the mandatory international pilot retirement age at 65.
Many countries have traditionally followed the international guidelines. However, some nations have a different approach for domestic flights. In Australia, for example, there is no mandatory retirement age, although pilots above the age of 60 are required to do more frequent medical check-ups. A similar approach is applied in New Zealand, while Japan allows commercial pilots to fly until the age of 68.
Now, according to the International Air Transport Association, representing some 350 airlines worldwide, the current retirement age of 65 is no longer tenable. As air travel keeps getting more popular and the demand for pilots is rising, a shortage of commercial airline pilots is on its way. While there is currently an aggressive schooling and hiring programme for pilots in place, the number of new pilots cannot make up for both the growing demand and the large number of retirements at once.
Proponents and opponents
IATA has thus submitted a proposal to the U.N.’s International Civil Aviation Organization, asking them to raise the international pilot retirement age to 67 instead of 65. Such a change would have an immediate impact on the number of active pilots, thus making up, at least partly, for the growing demand. In the document, they list a number of reasons for such a change, and they also counter the health argument often put forward by opponents of an age increase.
“World Health Organization (WHO) health population data shows global evidence of improving population health status, particularly cardiovascular, due to socio-economic factors and advancing medical care. There has been an associated increase in life expectancy as well as reductions in population mortality and morbidity with age. Air Transport Pilots are a population subgroup who generally have significantly better health status than general populations”, IATA writes in its proposal.
RAA supports @IATA & their efforts during the 42nd Assembly @ICAO to increase the pilot age limit to 67. Raising the mandatory retirement age will help address the long-term pilot shortage and support vital air service in the smallest communities in the US. pic.twitter.com/Uoi4vWNUPz
— Regional Airline Association (@RAAtweets) September 4, 2025
According to news agency Reuters, the proposal will be considered by the U.N. at its General Assembly on 23 September 2025. However, major pilot unions across the world and in the US in particular have already spoken out against the retirement age change.
“The United States is the global leader in aviation safety, and we should resist any attempts to arbitrarily make changes to the regulatory framework that has helped us achieve this record. That’s why Congress rejected making a change to the pilot retirement age just last year. The US should continue to provide global leadership on this issue and maintain its current position”, the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) said in a statement, referring to a failed attempt to raise the mandatory airline pilot retirement age to 67 from 65 in the US in 2023.
