Retirement age for pilots now 65 in Asia.
The retirement age for Japanese pilots has been raised from 63, to 65 recently.
The forthcoming "Baby Boomer" (post WWii) peak of imminent retirees has obviously played a major role in the JCAB's (Japan Civil Aviation Bureau's) decision to revise (upwards) the age at which pilots flying in Japan can operate domestically in airlines.
It is also an indication that Japan is unable to attract sufficient non-Japanese pilots, to fill the massive vacancies that will inevitably occur en masse, meaning Japanese airlines will be left unable to cope with projected future growth, and therefore losing valuable market share if Japan wishes to cash in on the burgeoning tourist influx.
The likely winners are the Chinese airlines, now actively recruiting foreign pilots to fill their own shortfalls.
China 's tourist numbers to Japan have been on a progressive rise for the past number of years, as the affordability of air travel, and affluence of that country increases.
Pilot salaries offered by Chinese airlines have been on a continual rise, whereas salaries and conditions offered by the Japanese have decreased, making the Japanese aviation employment scene "just another Asian contender", according to some pilot recruitment agencies.