Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau Announces Retirement Amid Controversy

Mon Mar 30 2026 18:46:07 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Michael Rousseau steps down as CEO of Air Canada following backlash over an English-only condolence video after the tragic LaGuardia Airport accident that claimed two pilots' lives.

Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau is set to retire after facing criticism for his English-only condolence message regarding a fatal plane crash. The incident has led to questions about his French language skills, which prompted significant backlash in bilingual Canada. Rousseau, who has been with the company for nearly 20 years, confirmed he would step down by the end of the third quarter, expressing gratitude for his tenure. His retirement follows mounting calls for him to resign, particularly after the loss of two pilots from Quebec in the crash. Rousseau's apology after the incident has been met with both scrutiny and support.

The CEO of Air Canada will retire later this year, after being criticised for failing to speak French in a condolence video following last week's fatal collision at LaGuardia Airport that killed two of the airline's pilots.

Michael Rousseau informed the airline that he will be stepping down by the end of the company's third quarter, Air Canada said in a statement on Monday.

Rousseau had faced calls to resign after delivering his condolences in English only. One of the pilots who died, Antoine Forest, was from French-speaking Quebec.

He later apologised and said he was unable to express himself adequately in French - an official language in Canada - despite taking lessons over the years.

Announcing his retirement, Rousseau said: It has been my great honour to work with the dedicated and talented people of Air Canada and to represent our outstanding organisation. I look forward to supporting our company during this important transition period.

In the same statement, Air Canada said Rousseau was stepping down after nearly two decades of strong and dedicated leadership with the airline, which is headquartered in Montreal.

Rousseau's English-only condolence video was heavily scrutinised, with Canadian politicians including Prime Minister Mark Carney commenting on its lack of compassion.

Quebec Premier François Legault publicly stated that Rousseau should step down if he was unable to speak French.

The condolence video was released after an Air Canada plane collided with a fire truck at LaGuardia airport shortly after landing, killing pilots Antoine Forest and Mackenzie Gunther. Rousseau expressed deepest sorrow for everyone affected while the video included both English and French subtitles, but he was quickly condemned for not speaking French.

Rousseau later apologised, acknowledging that his limited French skills diverted attention from the grief of the pilots' families and Air Canada staff. He reiterated his commitment to improving his language skills in light of the criticism he faced, which had been a concern since he was appointed as CEO.

Air Canada's status as a federally mandated bilingual company makes proficiency in both languages an important aspect of its operations, underlining the significance of Rousseau's language challenges amidst national expectations.