Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau to step down after backlash over non-French message
March 30, 2026
Air Canada has announced that Chief Executive Michael Rousseau will step down by the end of the third quarter of 2026, bringing to a close nearly two decades with the airline, including his tenure as CEO since 2021.
The Montréal-headquartered carrier said Rousseau will remain in post and continue serving on the board until his departure, ensuring what it described as a “seamless and smooth transition”.
A formal succession process is already underway, with the board confirming that it has been developing internal candidates for more than two years while also launching a global external search in January 2026.
Board chair Vagn Sørensen credited Rousseau with steering the airline through major crises, including COVID-19, restoring pension solvency, and strengthening Air Canada’s financial position, while also highlighting strategic moves such as the reacquisition of Aeroplan.
French language backlash intensifies after LaGuardia condolence message
Rousseau’s leadership has, however, been periodically overshadowed by criticism over his use of English in a bilingual country where language carries deep political and cultural weight.
The issue resurfaced following a condolence message issued after the recent LaGuardia Airport crash, where Rousseau delivered remarks in English that were criticised for not adequately reflecting Canada’s French-speaking population. In the four-minute message, just two French words were heard: bonjour and merci.
Air Canada’s CEO, Michael Rousseau: “I am deeply saddened that my inability to speak French has diverted attention from the profound grief of the families and the great resilience of Air Canada’s employees, who have demonstrated outstanding professionalism despite the events of… pic.twitter.com/XuZhXEMGQb
— FL360aero (@fl360aero) March 26, 2026
Following the address, Rousseau expressed his frustration at the response.
“I am deeply saddened that my inability to speak French has diverted attention from the profound grief of the families and the great resilience of Air Canada’s employees, who have demonstrated outstanding professionalism despite the events of the past few days,” he said.
“Despite many lessons over several years, unfortunately, I am still unable to express myself adequately in French. I sincerely apologise for this, but I am continuing my efforts to improve.”
This was not an isolated incident. Rousseau had previously faced backlash in 2021 after delivering a high-profile speech in Montréal without speaking French, prompting political criticism and public debate about linguistic representation at the top of one of Canada’s most prominent companies.
According to official statistics, roughly 22–23% of Canadians speak French as their first language, with the vast majority based in Québec, while around 30% of the population is bilingual to some degree. For a national flag carrier headquartered in Montréal, expectations around bilingual leadership are especially high.
Air Canada signals French-speaking requirement for next CEO
Despite the renewed scrutiny, Air Canada has been careful to frame Rousseau’s departure as part of a long-planned transition rather than a reaction to recent criticism.
The airline said succession planning has been a “longstanding focus” of the board, with structured internal development programmes and an external search already underway before the latest controversy.
However, the company also made clear that language will play a defined role in selecting its next leader.
In its statement, Air Canada said candidates will be assessed on several criteria, including “the ability to communicate in French”, an explicit requirement that reflects both political expectations and the airline’s cultural positioning in Québec.
The inclusion of this criterion signals a shift in emphasis, even as the company maintains continuity in leadership. Rousseau has agreed to remain available beyond his tenure if needed, underscoring the board’s intent to manage the transition carefully while resetting expectations for the future.
Featured image: AGN
