IATA Pushes Raising ICAO Pilot Retirement Age Standard

An IATA proposal will see discussion over whether to raise pilot standards elevated to the global stage during the upcoming ICAO General Assembly.

IATA’s working paper calls for the global standards-setting body to support raising the upper age limit for pilots to age 67, provided a second pilot is younger than 65. IATA does not propose any new data-driven reviews to support the move, but advocates “a system of standardized data collection about the medical status and health-related performance across all pilot age groups,” the recently submitted paper said. The data should “at a minimum” include medical conditions, medical reasons for retirement or loss of certificates, “and inflight safety and performance data [for all events],” it added.

IATA’s proposal, set to be discussed at the 42 ICAO General Assembly that starts Sept. 23, echoes similar calls in recent years, including efforts in the U.S. that proponents touted as a simple way to help offset pilot shortages. Opponents, notably the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) and other major pilot groups, maintain there is no shortage.

They also note that raising the pilot retirement age at the national level will create issues if the global recommended standard is different, forcing airlines to navigate multiple regulatory requirements when pilots cross borders on international flights.

The IATA proposal, which targets “multi-pilot international commercial air transport operations, would take a major step toward eliminating the global-standards argument.”

ICAO last changed its global standard for pilot retirement in 2006, moving from age 60 to age 65. The move was based in part on “modern epidemiological data” that showed humans were staying healthier longer.

In 2024, IATA co-sponsored a paper from several countries, including Australia, Brazil, and New Zealand, that allow pilots older than 65 in commercial operations—including some with no age limit. The paper urged ICAO to examine whether an upper age limit makes sense at all.

“[A]rbitrary age limits are unnecessary given the evolution of the overall health and lifespan of the population, advances in medical diagnostics and treatment, the rigor of aviation medical assessment, and the ongoing improvements in aviation safety technology,” the paper, presented at an ICAN air navigation conference, argued. “The focus should be on whether pilots meet the aeromedical and operational safety performance standards consistent with acceptable levels of safety, irrespective of age.”