Air Canada CEO to retire this year after his English-only crash message was criticized

Air Canada announced Monday that its CEO will retire later this year, following criticism of an English-only message of condolence after a deadly crash in New York.
 

The airline said Michael Rousseau, 68, informed the board he will step down by the end of the third quarter.
 

Canada is officially bilingual, and Prime Minister Mark Carney described the decision as “appropriate,” adding that it is essential for the next CEO of Air Canada to be bilingual.
 

Rousseau faced backlash after delivering a condolence message in English, with only French subtitles, following the fatal crash at LaGuardia Airport. Critics, including Quebec officials, said the move showed poor judgment and a lack of sensitivity.

Quebec Premier François Legault welcomed the decision, stating that the airline’s next leader must be able to speak French.
 

The crash involved an Air Canada Jazz flight from Montreal that collided with a fire truck on the runway shortly after landing. Two pilots, including Antoine Forest and Mackenzie Gunther, were killed.

Air Canada, headquartered in Montreal, has long operated in a province where about 80% of the population is French-speaking. Rousseau had previously faced criticism for not speaking French and had pledged in 2021 to learn the language.

Canada’s transport minister, Steven MacKinnon, thanked Rousseau for his service and said the government would continue working with the airline to ensure safe, reliable, affordable, and bilingual service.

The controversy also drew broader attention to the role of language in Canadian public life. Daniel Béland of McGill University noted that language remains a highly political issue in the country, and Rousseau’s failure to follow through on his promise to learn French did not help public perception.

However, former Conservative Cabinet minister Jason Kenney argued that the CEO of a national airline should prioritize safety and reliability over language training.