Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau Announces Retirement Amid Controversy Over Condolence Video

Mon Mar 30 2026 19:21:05 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Michael Rousseau, the CEO of Air Canada, has decided to retire following backlash for delivering a condolence message only in English after a tragic incident at LaGuardia Airport that led to the deaths of two pilots. The focus on his language skills has ignited discussions about bilingualism in Canada.

Michael Rousseau, CEO of Air Canada, will retire by the end of Q3 2026 after criticism regarding his English-only condolence message for deceased pilots from a recent airplane crash. His inability to speak French in an official message prompted backlash from politicians and the public. Rousseau acknowledged his shortcomings in French and expressed his intentions to support the airline during the transition period ahead.

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.

Rousseau's English-only condolence video drew criticism from Canadian politicians, including Prime Minister Mark Carney, who stated it demonstrated a lack of compassion. Quebec Premier François Legault insisted Rousseau should resign if he could not speak French.

The message was released after an Air Canada plane collided with a fire truck at LaGuardia airport in New York shortly after landing, resulting in the deaths of pilots Forest and Mackenzie Gunther. Rousseau expressed deepest sorrow for everyone affected in the video, which included English and French subtitles, but he was subsequently summoned to Ottawa by Canada's parliamentary committee on Official Languages to explain his actions.

Rousseau's previous struggles with French have been a recurring topic since he took on the CEO role in 2021. He had previously committed to improving his language skills, but maintained that significant work was still required.

Air Canada, being subject to Canada's Official Languages Act, handles announcements in both English and French. Rousseau's future efforts in improving his French may be critical for his successor, especially in the wake of this controversy.