The government will allow airline captains and copilots to fly together beyond the normal retirement threshold of 60 from next month due to a flight crew shortage amid the rise in low-cost carriers, transport ministry and industry officials said Wednesday.
At present, one pilot in a cockpit must be younger than 60, although pilots can keep flying up to age 65 as long as they pass rigorous medical examinations, according to the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry.
The deregulation will be a boon to smaller carriers that rely on retirees from big airlines or midcareer pilots recruited from other carriers, the industry officials said.