
Michael Rousseau To Step Down As CEO Of Air Canada After Language Controversy
Michael Rousseau will step down as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Air Canada by the end of the third quarter of 2026, following criticism over a video message after a crash incident. He will continue in the role and remain on the Board until his retirement.
The response followed a collision involving an Air Canada Jazz flight and a fire vehicle at LaGuardia Airport, in which two pilots died. The company released a condolence video in which Rousseau spoke mainly in English, drawing reactions in Montreal, where French is widely used. Authorities received complaints over the communication, citing requirements under language laws and company policy to provide information in both English and French.
Rousseau has served as President and CEO of Air Canada since February 2021. He previously held roles as Deputy CEO and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), and has overseen the airline’s financial strategy and business operations since 2007. Before joining Air Canada, he held executive roles at Hudson’s Bay Company and worked with firms including Moore Corporation and Silcorp Ltd. He has also led initiatives across units, including Air Canada Rouge, and has been part of the company’s restructuring for more than a decade. In December 2024, he was elected chair of the Star Alliance Chief Executive Board. Rousseau is a graduate of York University and a member of CPA Ontario.




