A group representing the world’s major airlines has called on the United Nations’ International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to raise the international retirement age for commercial pilots from 65 to 67, citing rising global demand for air travel and a shortage of aviators.
The proposal, put forward by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which represents about 350 airlines, will be considered at ICAO’s General Assembly on September 23.
Under current rules, commercial pilots over 65 are prohibited from flying international flights. Many countries, including the United States, apply the same age restriction domestically.
In a working paper published on ICAO’s website, IATA described its proposal as a balanced measure.
“Raising the limit by two years is a cautious but reasonable step consistent with safety,” IATA said.
The paper added that safety safeguards would remain in place, requiring at least two pilots on each flight, including one younger than 65 if the other exceeds the age threshold.
ICAO last raised the retirement age in 2006, moving it from 60 to 65.
The push to increase the age limit has met stiff resistance from US pilot unions, who argued that safety could be compromised.
“There is not enough data available to adequately understand the risk of increasing the retirement age,” said Dennis Tajer, spokesperson for the Allied Pilots Association (APA) and an American Airlines pilot.
“We don’t gamble with safety that way.”
The Air Line Pilots Association and the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association have not yet issued official responses.
Last year, US carriers supported an unsuccessful legislative push to raise the retirement age to 67. That proposal was blocked after opposition from unions.
However, a bipartisan group of lawmakers recently urged President Donald Trump’s administration to back international efforts for the change at ICAO.
If approved, the new rule would represent one of the most significant shifts in international aviation standards in nearly two decades, potentially reshaping the career span of pilots worldwide.
