Air India Raises Retirement Age for Pilots to 65, Non-Flying Staff to 60

In a major policy shift, Air India has decided to increase the retirement age for its pilots from 58 to 65 years and for non-flying employees from 58 to 60 years, according to sources.

The announcement was reportedly made during a townhall meeting addressed by CEO and MD Campbell Wilson. This move aligns Air India’s superannuation norms with those of its erstwhile subsidiary Vistara, which merged with the airline in November 2024.

Currently, Air India employs around 24,000 people, including approximately 3,600 pilots and 9,500 cabin crew. While the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) already permits commercial pilots to fly until 65, most Air India pilots had their contracts extended beyond 58 on an individual basis.

It remains unclear whether the retirement age for cabin crew — presently 58 years — will also be revised. The decision follows a period in which several pilots and cabin crew members resigned, and during the merger process, differences in retirement policies between Air India and Vistara had sparked dissatisfaction among a section of staff.

Source: PTI