Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau will retire later this year following criticism over his response to a fatal airport collision. The announcement came Monday, with Rousseau expected to step down by the end of the third quarter of 2026. He will remain with the company and on the board until then.
The controversy stemmed from an English-only video message of condolence Rousseau released after a deadly collision at New York’s LaGuardia Airport on March 22nd. The incident involved an Air Canada Jazz flight from Montreal and a fire truck, resulting in the deaths of two pilots, one of whom was from French-speaking Quebec.
Rousseau had previously faced scrutiny for his limited French language skills, and a promise to learn the language. The English-only message sparked widespread indignation and hundreds of complaints to the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages, with many calling for his resignation. Air Canada stated it will prioritize French fluency when searching for a successor.