Air Canada CEO, Michael Rousseau, announces retirement after speaking in English after LaGuardia crash

Michael Rousseau, President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada, has informed the airline’s Board of Directors that he will retire by the end of the third quarter of 2026 after nearly two decades in leadership. This decision comes after intense backlash over an English-only condolence message issued after a fatal plane crash at LaGuardia Airport. The message, delivered primarily in English following the March 22 collision that killed two pilots, drew widespread criticism in Canada’s bilingual context and accelerated calls for leadership change.

Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney publicly criticized Rousseau’s message as showing a “lack of judgment” and compassion, saying that bilingual communication is essential for Air Canada, which is required under the Official Languages Act to serve both language communities. Quebec’s provincial legislature also adopted a motion calling for Rousseau’s resignation.

“We proudly live in a bilingual country, and companies like Air Canada particularly have a responsibility to always communicate in both official languages, regardless of the situation,” said Carney.


Canada recognizes English and French as its two official languages, with roughly eight million Canadians, about 22 percent of the population, identifying French as their first language.

LaGuardia Airport crash

The controversy stems from Rousseau’s response to the crash of Air Canada Express Flight 8646, in which a Bombardier CRJ-900 plane collided with a fire truck on landing, killing both pilots and injuring dozens of others. The CEO’s video tribute, which included mainly English with only brief French greetings, was widely seen as inadequate in a formally bilingual nation where English and French have equal official status. One of the deceased pilots was a French-speaking Quebecer, intensifying the reaction in Quebec.

In an official statement, Air Canada’s Board noted that a long-term CEO succession plan had been underway for more than two years, including internal development programs and a global executive search launched in January 2026. The board said it will consider a range of performance criteria for Rousseau’s successor, including French language skills, reflecting the importance of bilingual leadership for the airline headquartered in Montreal. Rousseau will continue in his role during the transition period.

Rousseau, who has been CEO since 2021 and held senior roles at the airline for nearly 20 years, previously apologized for his limited French and acknowledged that his language skills had “diverted attention from the profound grief of the families” affected by the crash. He reiterated his commitment to learning French, though critics said the episode highlighted deeper cultural and leadership expectations.