Air Canada announced Monday that CEO Michael Rousseau will retire by the end of the third quarter of 2026. Rousseau's decision follows a period of intense scrutiny after he delivered an English-only message of condolence after the Air Canada Jazz flight 8428 crash at LaGuardia Airport in New York earlier this month. The crash, which involved a collision with a fire truck and resulted in the deaths of two pilots, both Canadian, sparked outrage, particularly in Quebec.
Prime Minister Mark Carney publicly stated that Rousseau's English-only response demonstrated a lack of compassion and poor judgment, given that one of the pilots, Antoine Forest, was a French-speaking Quebecer. Quebec Premier François Legault and others had called for Rousseau's resignation. The Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages reportedly received hundreds of complaints regarding the incident. Rousseau had previously faced criticism for his inability to speak French, despite a promise to learn the language when he was appointed President of Air Canada in 2021.
The Air Canada board stated that succession planning has been a priority for over two years, with internal development programs in place for high-potential executives. A global search for external candidates began in January 2026. Rousseau has agreed to assist with the transition after his departure.
Rousseau has been in leadership roles at Air Canada for nearly two decades. Board chair Vagn Sørensen acknowledged Rousseau's dedicated leadership and contributions to Air Canada.
