On Friday, October 3, the International Civil Aviation Organization ( ICAO) rejected a proposal by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to raise the mandatory retirement age for commercial airline pilots. The proposal, debated during ICAO’s 42nd General Assembly in Montreal, sought to extend the global age limit for multi-crew international operations from 65 to 67.
In the early years of commercial aviation, the mandatory retirement age was set as low as 45 before being raised to 60 in the 1940s. It later increased to 65 in 2006 under updated ICAO standards. IATA had argued that allowing pilots to continue flying for an additional two years would help ease ongoing staffing shortages without compromising safety.
IATA’s Proposal Gains Industry Support But Fails To Pass Vote
The aviation industry continues to face a pilot shortage as airlines expand their networks and fleets. Forecasts now estimate that between 2024 and 2043, the sector will require between 649,000 and 674,000 pilots globally, which is a notable increase from earlier projections.
According to Boeing’s latest Pilot and Technician Outlook, around 660,000 new pilots are needed over the next two decades to operate and maintain the growing global fleet. Thus, several airlines supported IATA’s proposal to raise the retirement age, saying it would help retain qualified and experienced pilots for longer and buy time while the next generation of aviators enters the workforce.
Furthermore, the association highlighted that when the limit was raised from 60 to 65 in 2006, there was no increase in safety incidents. It also noted that countries such as Australia, New Zealand, and Canada have no upper age limit for pilots. Even so, ICAO member states voted to maintain the global retirement age at 65 for international operations, citing concerns around aviation safety and age-related health risks.
ICAO’s Rejection Sparks Mixed Reactions Across Global Aviation
The decision means pilots reaching 65 will remain ineligible to operate multi-crew international flights. The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), which represents more than 80,000 pilots in the United States and Canada, welcomed ICAO’s decision, saying that focus should remain on training, safety, and modernization rather than regulatory age changes.
“Raising the pilot retirement age is a solution in search of a problem that distracts from the pressing needs of our industry, like modernizing the air traffic control system,” said ALPA President Jason Ambrosi. “The United States leads the world in aviation, and we should resist any political attempts, especially those not backed by data and science, that would disrupt the US aviation system and put us outside international standards.”
However, not all industry voices shared this view. Speaking to Aviation Metric, Managing Director of Aero Contractors, Capt. Ado Sanusi said he supported IATA’s argument to raise the age limit, noting that advances in healthcare and longevity had changed the outlook for older pilots. “People are now doing preventive medicine rather than curative medicine. People live longer, and they are quite strong even at the age of 65,” he said.
“I think IATA has a very good argument. I don’t know what ICAO’s reason is to reject it, but scientifically, of all major medical journals, the innovation over the past five decades has shown that people are living longer, healthier, [and] are more productive even after 60…We want to keep the well-experienced pilots to make sure they train the incoming ones.”
ICAO To Revisit Pilot Age Policy In Future Evidence-Based Review
Furthermore, in its proposal, IATA described raising the age limit from 65 to 67 as a “cautious but reasonable step” that countries could consider to maintain safety while supporting the long-term viability of commercial air transport operations. As previously mentioned, the association noted that several nations already allow pilots to fly beyond 65 under their own regulations.
Argentina, for instance, increased its limit to 68 in 2024, provided that more than one pilot is present in the cockpit. The country’s National Civil Aviation Administration said the decision reflected advances in medical technology and the need to meet growing demand.
Japan also permits extended flying careers, allowing pilots to work until their 68th birthday, though those aged 66 and 67 are generally restricted to domestic operations, as international routes remain subject to ICAO’s current standard. Both countries have reported no rise in safety incidents among pilots over 65, which strengthens the case that higher limits can be introduced without undermining safety.
Following these discussions, ICAO’s assembly agreed to continue reviewing pilot age limits through an evidence-based process. The organization confirmed that any future change to extend the limit to 67 will be guided strictly by comprehensive data analysis and safety considerations.
