Also remember that a average Japanese is (much) healthier than an average American. But never say never about another age raise. Greed is blind.

Canada, and several other countries, have no age limit.

You beat me to it, but that is absolutely correct. Being 90 in Japan is like being 70 here in the US.

Another thing, I think ICAO is 65. If I recall, that means the age 67 rule for Japan would only apply in their country, not international.

Pandora's Box has been opened with the change to age 65. Unless airlines adamantly oppose and lobby against another change, the age limit will change again. And since Pandora's Box has been opened, the new change will be much faster than the change from 60 to 65. My best guess is that the age limit will increase within the next 4 years.

Once AGAIN, it's now 68 in Japan. Not 67. And ICAO is probably looking at making the change in the near future.

I don't think Japan has 18,000 regional pilots available to choose from. There has to be a need. Additionally, I would imagine that the average 64.9 year old pilot is not the cheapest on the seniority list. I doubt there will be any airline lobbying to keep the most expensive guys on the roster employed.

FIFY. No charge.

Thanks. What your saying makes sense to me, but I guarantee your average bean counter sees it in a totally different way.

There was a decent amount of airline support for age 65. A few reasons:
1) Less training costs. One retirement can trigger a half a dozen training events.
2) Airline salaries max (for almost all airlines) at the 12 year mark. The cost of having pilots fly for another 3 years isn't as much as one would think.
3) By extending pilot careers, the supply of pilots remains higher. This allows the airlines to pay pilots less money.

I'm sure that there are plenty of other pros and cons for the airlines, but I would guess that the economics of an age change are a big reason for the airlines to push for it.

On the Congressional side, lawmakers
1) Do not want to be labeled as someone who practices age discrimination.
2) Having pilots work longer means more money coming into and less money going out of Social Security.

Is Delta the only airline that has a Medical Department and requires annual company physicals for their pilots?

I know United closed their medical Department and stopped requiring annual company physicals a few years back during Tilton's reign.