Michael Rousseau, the chief executive officer of Air Canada, has announced he will step down following public outrage over the lack of French language in a video statement addressing the LaGuardia Airport crash that killed two people last week.
In a statement on Monday, Air Canada said Mr Rousseau has informed the company’s board that he will retire as CEO by the end of September 2026, bringing an end to his decades-long tenure at the airline.
“The board of directors of Air Canada today announced that Michael Rousseau has informed the Board that he will retire by the end of the third quarter of 2026, after nearly two decades of strong and dedicated leadership that has reinforced Air Canada’s place as a leader in the airline industry domestically and globally.
“Mr Rousseau will continue to lead the company and to serve on its board until that time,” the airline said in a statement.
Both the pilot and the co-pilot were killed after an Air Canada passenger plane on a flight from Montreal to New York collided with a Port Authority fire truck, which was responding to a separate incident, causing damage to the front portion of the CRJ-900 aircraft.
The video statement released by Mr Rousseau after the crash quickly attracted heavy criticism for large portions of his speech being in English, with little French, such as “bonjour” and “merci”.
Canada has two official languages, and most companies, including Air Canada, are mandated to use both in official communications. Many French-speaking Canadians were unimpressed with Mr Rousseau’s choice of language in his speech.
He subsequently issued an apology, saying his language limitations had shifted the focus away from grieving families and the efforts of the airline’s employees, but Quebec lawmakers last week unanimously voted in favour of a motion calling for Mr Rousseau’s resignation.
Meanwhile, Air Canada assured that a succession plan has been in motion for over two years to find a competent replacement.
“The board has had a longstanding focus on CEO succession planning. Consistent with this priority, work has been underway for more than two years on a comprehensive internal development program for high-potential executives.
“An external global search was also commenced in January 2026 to identify potential additional candidates with the skills and experience to lead Canada’s national airline, proudly headquartered in Montréal, Québec,” the airline said.
