Air Canada has announced that its president and chief executive officer Michael Rousseau will retire later this year following widespread criticism over an English-only condolence message issued after a deadly aviation accident in New York.
The airline confirmed Rousseau plans to step down by the end of the third quarter of 2026, after informing the board of his decision. The announcement came days after his video response to a fatal runway collision involving an Air Canada Jazz flight at LaGuardia Airport drew strong reactions from political leaders and the public.
The controversy centered on Rousseau delivering condolences only in English, despite Canada’s bilingual status and Air Canada’s headquarters being located in French-speaking Montreal. Critics argued the message lacked sensitivity, particularly because one of the pilots killed in the crash was from Quebec.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney described the communication as showing a “lack of compassion and judgment,” while Quebec officials and lawmakers called for stronger leadership accountability and emphasized the importance of bilingual communication at the national airline.
Rousseau later apologized, saying his limited ability to speak French had unintentionally shifted attention away from the tragedy and the victims’ families. The airline also confirmed that bilingual communication skills would be considered an important factor in selecting his successor.
Air Canada stated the retirement aligns with long-term succession planning already underway, though the timing has intensified public discussion about language expectations and corporate leadership responsibilities in Canada’s aviation sector.
The incident has highlighted ongoing sensitivities around language identity in Quebec and renewed calls for stronger bilingual representation within national institutions.
