Raising the pilot retirement age in the United States would create significant uncertainty for airlines and their workers—without improving pilot availability.
is the global pilot retirement age set by the International Civil Aviation Organization.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which sets international aviation standards, mandates that pilots in multicrew operations must retire at age 65. ICAO is not considering an increase to the pilot retirement age.
An increase beyond age 65 would put the United States out of step with international rules, barring pilots over 65 from flying most international routes.
Some stakeholders have claimed that the United States should unilaterally raise the retirement age, falsely citing a “pilot shortage." The truth is that there are more than enough pilots to support today’s operations and future travel demand. In fact, recent airline activity suggests that there is an excess of pilots:
Raising the retirement age would not increase pilot supply but, rather, would create massive disruption to air carrier operations. Some categories of pilots would not be able to fly at all, and more-senior pilots (who could no longer fly international routes) would be forced to retrain in order to fly domestic-only flights (bumping less-senior pilots). Such a change would force a cascading and costly training event that would reduce the number of available pilots.
It’s a change that helps no one—least of all, airline passengers.
Raising the retirement age would complicate airline operations, disrupt pilot career progression, and increase costs—all without adding pilots to the workforce.
The current pilot retirement age aligns with global safety standards and ensures stability in airline operations. Raising the retirement age would disrupt operations, create uncertainty, and introduce new risks—without solving any real problem. Keeping the current standard protects aviation safety, pilot career progression, and airline reliability.
ALPA and more than 30 labor unions firmly oppose any increase to the mandatory pilot retirement age in the United States, including a House-passed provision allowing airline pilots between the ages of 65 and 67 to continue flying. Raising the retirement age would force airlines to restructure operations, retrain senior pilots for domestic flights, and absorb costly disruptions—all while preventing over-65 pilots from flying international routes.
We must prioritize authentic safety-focused leadership in aviation, not political appointments that distract from critical modernization and safety needs.
Learn more about key issues and how you can support our mission.
It's time to invest in a safer, smarter, and more efficient air traffic control system.
Flight deck barriers, including a secondary barrier, are critical to security on passenger and all-cargo aircraft.
Two fully qualified, highly trained, and well-rested pilots on the flight deck are an airliner’s strongest safety asset.
Outdated aeromedical rules discourage pilots from seeking care for mental health. It's time to modernize the system.
