Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau to step down by Q3 over English-only message controversy

Air Canada on Monday said CEO Michael Rousseau will retire by the end of the third quarter, with the announcement coming against the backdrop of criticism over his handling of communications after a fatal accident, Reuters reported.The controversy stemmed from a condolence message issued following a collision involving an Air Canada Express aircraft and a fire truck at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, which killed both pilots and left dozens injured. The message, delivered largely in English, drew sharp reactions in bilingual Canada.Prime Minister Mark Carney said last week the episode reflected poor judgment by the airline’s top executive.The development has fast-tracked an already planned leadership transition, with the carrier confirming that the process to identify a successor is underway.Rousseau, 68, has been with Air Canada for nearly two decades and oversaw its recovery from the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, his tenure also saw criticism over operational issues, including a four-day strike by flight attendants last year that disrupted hundreds of flights.The latest backlash also revived earlier concerns around language use. In 2021, Rousseau had apologised after delivering a speech primarily in English in Montreal, despite the city being in French-speaking Quebec.Language remains a politically sensitive issue in Quebec, where concerns over English dominance have historically influenced regional politics, including support for the separatist Parti Quebecois.Air Canada, though a listed company, operates under the Official Languages Act, which mandates that it provide services in both English and French.The Quebec provincial legislature last week passed a non-binding motion urging Rousseau to step down, citing what lawmakers described as a lack of respect for the French language. Elections in the province are due later this year.The episode also comes at a time when airline chiefs globally are expected to directly address the public following fatal incidents. In January 2025, American Airlines CEO Robert Isom issued a video statement expressing “deep sorrow” after a midair collision involving one of its regional jets and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport killed 67 people.