Journalism of Courage

Key US senator urges Trump to back older retirement age for pilots

Senator Ted Cruz, in a letter seen by Reuters Sunday, asked Trump to support efforts at this week's opening of a United Nations aviation meeting in Montreal.

By: Reuters
September 22, 2025 02:00 AM IST

1 min read

International rules prevent airline pilots older than 65 from flying in most countries outside the US. (File Photo)

The Republican chair of the Senate Commerce Committee urged President Donald Trump to support international efforts to raise the mandatory pilot retirement age to 67.

Senator Ted Cruz, in a letter seen by Reuters Sunday, asked Trump to support efforts at this week’s opening of a United Nations aviation meeting in Montreal.

“America should lead on the international stage in support of raising, or even abolishing, the pilot retirement age,” Cruz wrote to Trump. In 2023, Congress rejected a push to raise the mandatory airline pilot retirement age to 67 from 65.

International rules prevent airline pilots older than 65 from flying in most countries outside the US.

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