Air India has announced that its pilots will now retire at 65, up from the previous age of 58. The retirement age for non-flying staff has also been increased, from 58 to 60. The announcement was made by Campbell Wilson, CEO and MD of Air India, during a recent townhall meeting.
The move aims to align Air India’s policies with industry peers like Vistara and is expected to benefit the airline’s workforce of around 24,000, which includes approximately 3,600 pilots and 9,500 cabin crew members. However, there is currently no official confirmation regarding a change in retirement age for cabin crew, who presently retire at 58.
According to Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) regulations, the retirement age for commercial pilots cannot exceed 65. Many Air India pilots who have reached 58 are reportedly working under extensions.
The changes come as part of Air India’s broader workforce transformation to create a modern, efficient, and customer-focused airline. The average age of non-flying staff has decreased from 54 to 35, while cabin crew average age has dropped to 29. This rejuvenation has been driven by new recruitment, voluntary exits, and team integrations following the merger of four airlines under the Air India brand. Since the Tata Group’s acquisition of Air India, there has been a marked shift in the age profile and composition of its employees.
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