US EditionAir Canada CEO Michael Rousseau to retire
Rousseau's retirement ends nearly 20 years at Air Canada amid criticism over his English-only condolence video after a fatal crash and demands for bilingual leadership.
- On Monday, Air Canada's board announced that CEO Michael Rousseau will retire by the end of the third quarter of 2026, closing out nearly two decades leading the country's largest airline.
- Rousseau's departure follows weeks of controversy tied to a four-minute condolence video released after a deadly Air Canada Jazz crash at LaGuardia Airport, delivered almost entirely in English.
- Prime Minister Mark Carney stated the message showed a "lack of judgment and lack of compassion," while Quebec Premier François Legault called for the executive's resignation, arguing his inability to speak French disrespected customers.
- Board chair Vagn Sørensen praised Rousseau's tenure through the 2007-08 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic as Air Canada launched a global external search for a successor beginning in January 2026.
- Succession planning has been a priority for more than two years, with internal development programs already underway, and Rousseau agreed to remain available to support the company during the transition period after his departure.
215 Articles
215 Articles
Air Canada Executive Director Michael Rousseau announced this Monday that he will retire later this year, shortly after receiving numerous criticisms for a condolences message he issued in English only after this month’s deadly accident in New York City. Canada’s largest airline, based in the French-speaking province of Quebec, reported that Rousseau, 68, told the board of directors that he will leave office at the end of September. Air Canada, …
Air Canada CEO to resign after outrage over English-only statement on death of 2 pilots
The CEO of Air Canada airlines announced his resignation after getting backlash over an English-only statement about the death of two pilots in a U.S. crash.Michael Rousseau, 68, told the board of the company that he would leave by the end of the third quarter, according to the announcement Monday.'The Air Canada board of directors will have to ensure that the next CEO speaks French.' Two pilots were killed when their Air Canada plane with 72 pa…
Air Canada CEO quits after language row
Air Canada’s CEO will step down this year following criticism over his English-only condolence message in response to a deadly collision in New York last week. Michael Rousseau faced backlash for not issuing a statement in French: The country’s largest airline is based in French-speaking Quebec, and one of the pilots killed in the crash was a French-speaking Quebecer. Prime Minister Mark Carney said the message showed “a lack of judgment,” and …
Michael Rousseau | Air Canada CEO: A nearly entirely English-language video message from Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau was poorly received in the bilingual…
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