Air India raises pilot retirement age to 65, aligns workforce policies post-Vistara merger

Air India has extended the retirement age for its pilots from 58 to 65 years, while increasing the retirement age for all other employees from 58 to 60, reported TOI.

According to TOI insiders, the pilots of the former Vistara airline already had a retirement age set at 65. “Since Vistara merged with Air India last November, the retirement age for pilots has been aligned at 65 to ensure uniformity across the combined workforce,” a source explained to the news outlet.

The airline employs roughly 24,000 staff members, including about 3,600 pilots and 9,500 cabin crew. It remains unclear whether the retirement age for cabin crew has also been adjusted to 65, matching that of pilots.


The update on retirement ages was reportedly shared during a recent company townhall meeting led by Air India CEO and Managing Director Campbell Wilson.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) permits commercial pilots to operate flights until the age of 65.

“There had been some dissatisfaction among pilots from both the former Air India and Vistara teams, partly due to differing retirement ages. This change has addressed that concern,” added the source.