German court rules Lufthansa can force pilots into retirement at age 60
FRANKFURT (AFX) - A German court ruled that it is legal for Deutsche Lufthansa AG (Xetra: 823212 - news) to force its pilots to retire at age 60.
Three pilots had filed a complaint with a labour court in Frankfurt, citing a breach of Germany's laws against discrimination and demanding that the maximum retirement age be pushed to the age of 65.
The court said that the age limit is based on the legitimate goal of ensuring 'the bodies and lives of the crew, passengers and people in the areas over which airplanes fly.'
The age limit is appropriate and necessary, the court said.
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There is the potential for each contract to be more restrictive than the FAA. If the majority of union is in favor for age 60, that could be the new work rule. It would take a lot of pressure from the crew force to make it happen.