Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau will step down later this year, with the airline entering a leadership transition amid ongoing scrutiny following a fatal crash and a communications controversy.
The carrier confirmed Rousseau plans to retire by the end of the third quarter of 2026, describing the move as part of its broader succession planning.
His departure comes weeks after a deadly runway collision at LaGuardia Airport, which killed two pilots and injured more than 40 people when an Air Canada aircraft struck a fire truck during landing.
In the aftermath of the incident, Rousseau issued a video statement expressing condolences, but faced backlash in Quebec after delivering the message almost entirely in English, despite the airline’s Montreal base and obligations under Canada’s bilingual language framework.
The response drew criticism from political leaders and the public, with Quebec’s provincial legislature backing a motion calling for his resignation and complaints lodged with the country’s official languages regulator.
Rousseau later acknowledged the controversy, saying his limited French had “diverted attention” from those affected by the crash, and apologised.
The issue also revived scrutiny of earlier comments made by Rousseau regarding his French language skills following his appointment as CEO in 2021.
While Air Canada has not linked his retirement directly to the backlash, the timing places the leadership change against a backdrop of heightened reputational pressure for the airline.
The crash, which occurred during landing shortly before midnight, caused significant damage to the aircraft and forced the temporary closure of the airport, with investigations ongoing.
