Air Canada has announced that its Chief Executive Officer, Michael Rousseau, will retire later in 2026, following controversy over his response to a fatal airport incident.
The airline disclosed that Rousseau informed the board of his decision to step down by the end of the third quarter, with a succession process already underway.
The development comes after criticism of an English-only video message issued by the CEO in response to a deadly collision on March 22 involving an Air Canada aircraft and a fire truck at LaGuardia Airport. The incident drew heightened attention given Canada’s bilingual status and reports that one of the deceased pilots was from French-speaking Quebec.
In a statement, Air Canada said its board would consider several performance criteria in selecting a successor, including proficiency in French, reflecting the country’s dual-language requirement.
Rousseau is expected to remain in his role and continue serving on the board until his retirement takes effect.
The controversy also drew criticism from Mark Carney, who described the unilingual message as disappointing and indicative of poor judgement. Anita Anand similarly stressed that national leaders, including corporate executives, should be able to communicate in both official languages.
Rousseau had earlier apologised, acknowledging that his limited French proficiency had shifted focus away from the victims and their families. He reiterated his commitment to improving his language skills.
The issue has reignited debate over bilingualism in Canada, particularly in Quebec, the country’s predominantly French-speaking province where Air Canada is headquartered.
