Release #: 23.10
March 24, 2023

ALPA Opposes Legislation to Increase Retirement Age for Professional Airline Pilots

Operational Ramifications Will Increase Costs and Introduce Unnecessary Risk

MCLEAN, Va.— The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) today issued the following statement regarding the Let Experienced Pilots Fly Act, introduced in both the House and Senate this week, that attempts to raise the mandatory retirement age for professional airline pilots.

“This legislation is a solution in search of a problem,” said Capt. Jason Ambrosi, ALPA president. “Raising the retirement age would only increase costs for airlines, worsen the post-COVID training backlog by using much-needed training cycles to train pilots over 65 who would be limited to domestic operations, and introduce unnecessary risks to passengers and crew alike. That’s why major airlines and a significant majority of pilots and passengers oppose this move. We are disappointed by the introduction of this misbegotten bill that betrays an understanding of how the airline industry works and will create more problems for air travel.”

Last year, ALPA’s pilot leaders adopted a resolution opposing any attempts to increase the retirement age for professional airline pilots, citing the significant unintended consequences to aviation safety and the pilot workforce as a whole.

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the largest airline pilot union in the world and represents more than 67,000 pilots at 39 U.S. and Canadian airlines. Visit ALPA.org or follow us on Twitter @ALPAPilots.

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CONTACT: ALPA Media, 703-481-4440 or Media@alpa.org