Air Canada President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Rousseau will retire by the end of the third quarter of 2026, with the carrier confirming that its board has already been running a succession process that includes both internal development and an external global search. Rousseau will remain in place until then and continue to serve on the board during the transition.
In its statement, Air Canada said the board had been focused on CEO succession planning for more than two years, and that an external search began in January 2026. The airline also made clear that French-language communication will be one of the criteria used in assessing candidates for the top job, a notable signal given the political and public scrutiny that has intensified in recent days.
The resignation announcement follows backlash over Rousseau’s response to the fatal Air Canada Express accident at New York LaGuardia Airport. Reuters reported that criticism mounted after Rousseau failed to offer condolences in French, one of Canada’s two official languages, in a video statement following the crash, which killed two pilots. The issue quickly became politically charged in Quebec, where French-language rights remain highly sensitive.
Rousseau later issued a public apology, saying he was “deeply saddened” that his inability to speak French had diverted attention from the grief of the victims’ families and the impact on employees and customers. In that statement, Air Canada also said it was cooperating fully with US and Canadian authorities investigating the accident.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney welcomed the decision, saying it was “absolutely essential” that Rousseau’s successor be fully bilingual. Reuters also reported that Quebec’s provincial legislature adopted a non-binding motion calling for Rousseau to step down, reinforcing the broader significance of language and leadership at the Montreal-headquartered airline, which is required under the Official Languages Act to provide service in both English and French. Air Canada’s board, however, also used the announcement to highlight Rousseau’s legacy over nearly two decades with the airline, including his role in steering the business through the global financial crisis, the pandemic recovery, the Aeroplan acquisition, pension solvency work, and wider customer and employee initiatives. Board chair Vagn Sørensen said Rousseau had helped reinforce Air Canada’s position domestically and internationally