Air India raises pilot retirement age to DGCA maximum limit
Air India has raised the retirement age for its pilots from 58 to 65 years, marking a notable shift in its retirement policy.
The flag carrier of India has also increased the retirement age for non-flying staff to 60 years, according to a report by The Times of India, citing Air India CEO and Managing Director Campbell Wilson.
By implementing the adjustment, the airline aims to resolve long-standing concerns among pilots over differing retirement ages compared to their counterparts at Vistara, the Tata-Singapore Airlines joint venture that merged with Air India in November 2024.
Previously, Air India’s flight crew had expressed frustration over this inconsistency, and the new policy is now expected to establish a unified retirement age for flight crew across the merged airline.
The change also brings Air India in line with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s (DGCA) regulations, which set 65 as the maximum retirement age for commercial pilots operating scheduled flights. Under DGCA rules, airlines are allowed to place an earlier retirement age but cannot exceed 65 without special approval.
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The updated policy will impact approximately 2,600 Air India pilots. While the retirement age for pilots has increased, it remains unclear whether the same applies to the airline’s 3,600 cabin crew members, who currently retire at 58.
When compared with other major Indian airlines, Air India’s new retirement age closely matches industry standards in the regional industry. Vistara already retires pilots at 65, while carriers such as IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Go First have set the retirement age at 60.
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The recent retirement age update comes as Air India navigates operational challenges and staff turnover, particularly following the Ahmedabad crash incident earlier this year.The post Air India raises pilot retirement age to DGCA maximum limit appeared first on AeroTime.
Air India has raised the retirement age for its pilots from 58 to 65 years, marking a notable…
The post Air India raises pilot retirement age to DGCA maximum limit appeared first on AeroTime.
