Air Canada CEO to retire after condolence-video controversy

Air Canada’s CEO has announced his retirement for later this year, following backlash over an English-only video expressing condolences after a fatal plane crash at LaGuardia Airport. The incident, which claimed the lives of two pilots, sparked criticism of the CEO’s decision to use only English in his message, despite the importance of French in Canada’s official language framework.

In a Monday statement, the airline revealed that Michael Rousseau will step down by the end of its third quarter. The video, released after the collision, was posted on X with both English and French subtitles. However, Rousseau’s choice to speak exclusively in English drew sharp reactions from Canadian officials, including Prime Minister Mark Carney, who called it a display of “lack of compassion.”

“It has been my great honour to work with the dedicated and talented people of Air Canada and to represent our outstanding organisation,” Rousseau said in his retirement announcement. “I look forward to supporting our company during this important transition period.”

The pilots killed in the accident included Antoine Forest, a native of French-speaking Quebec. Rousseau later apologized, acknowledging his limited French fluency, even though he had taken lessons over the years. He stated his inability to express himself “adequately” in French “diverted attention” from the grieving families and staff.

Rousseau’s language choice also led to his summoning by Canada’s parliamentary committee on Official Languages to address the matter before MPs. The CEO, an anglophone based in Montreal, had faced prior scrutiny for his French skills, notably after his 2021 appointment as CEO. At that time, he pledged to improve his proficiency, a commitment he reiterated in his recent apology.

Air Canada, a federally chartered corporation since its founding, has operated as a private entity since 1988. While its onboard announcements are in both English and French under the Official Languages Act, the CEO’s video became a focal point of public debate over language representation in the wake of the tragedy.