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.
In the same statement, Air Canada said Rousseau was stepping down after nearly two decades of strong and dedicated leadership with the airline, which is headquartered in Montreal.
Rousseau's English-only condolence video was criticised by Canadian politicians, including Prime Minister Mark Carney, who said it showed a lack of compassion. Quebec Premier François Legault suggested Rousseau should resign if he was unable to speak French.
The condolence video was released after an Air Canada plane collided with a fire truck at LaGuardia airport, resulting in the tragic deaths of Forest and another pilot, Mackenzie Gunther. Rousseau expressed deepest sorrow for everyone affected in the video, which included subtitles in both languages.
Following the backlash, Rousseau was summoned to Ottawa by Canada's parliamentary committee on Official Languages to address his comments and issued a written statement apologising, stating his inability to speak French diverted attention from the grieving families. He expressed his commitment to continuing efforts to improve his language skills.
Air Canada's ongoing dedication to bilingualism is legally obligated by Canada's Official Languages Act, which mandates announcements on board planes to be made in both English and French.
