Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau will retire midway through the French-language line
The plane collided with an emergency vehicle overnight and is currently being excavated for evidence in the investigation.
Air Canada said Monday that President and CEO Michael Rousseau will retire at the end of the third quarter of 2026, capping nearly two decades with the company.
The announcement comes the same month as the fatal crash involving an Air Canada Jazz flight from Montreal at New York’s LaGuardia Airport.
In its statement, Air Canada planned the move as part of a long-term succession process, saying that internal development work had been ongoing for more than two years and that an external search had begun in January 2026.
“On behalf of the entire Board, I want to thank Mike for his many contributions to Air Canada as he progressed from Chief Financial Officer to Deputy CEO to CEO and Board member,” Board of Directors Chair Vagn Sørensen said in a statement Monday.
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Air Canada president and CEO Michael Rousseau was forced to apologize for his inability to speak French and is now retiring. (Nick Lachance/Toronto Star/Getty Images)
“We are grateful for the determined leadership you have given us not only in guiding our company through the financial crisis of 2007-2008, COVID and other challenges, but also in finding opportunities such as the Aeroplan acquisition, restoring the solvency of our pension plans and advancing customer focus and employee health priorities,” said Vagren Sørensen. “Our upcoming AGM will allow us to continue to recognize his achievements, including a legacy of financial strength.”
Canada’s largest airline, based in Quebec, said Rousseau told the board he would leave at the end of the third quarter.
Air Canada shares fell more than 2% on the Toronto stock market.
Days before the announcement, Rousseau faced heavy criticism for an English video message of condolence following the fatal crash at LaGuardia Airport involving an Air Canada Jazz flight from Montreal.
Canada is officially bilingual, and Prime Minister Mark Carney said the message showed a lack of compassion and judgment, while Quebec officials and others wanted Rousseau to step down.
Rousseau’s four-minute condolence video posted online includes only two French words – “bonjour” and “merci.”
“I am deeply saddened that my inability to speak French has diverted attention from the deep grief of the families and the great resilience of Air Canada’s employees, who have shown outstanding bravery despite the events of the past few days,” Rousseau said in a statement. “Despite many lessons over the years, unfortunately, I have not been able to express myself sufficiently in French. I sincerely apologize for this, but I continue my efforts to improve.”
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An Air Canada Express CRJ-900 lands on the runway after colliding with a Port Authority fire truck at LaGuardia Airport Monday, March 23, 2026 in New York City. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images/Getty Images)
Language remains a particularly sensitive issue in French-speaking Quebec, the country’s second most populous province, where discontent with English rule fueled the rise of the separatist Parti Quebecois in the 1970s.
Although Air Canada is a publicly traded company, it is required to provide services in both English and French under the Official Languages Act, which guarantees the public’s right to communicate with the company in any language.
Quebec’s provincial legislature last week adopted a non-binding proposal for Rousseau to step down for what lawmakers called disrespect for the French language.
Quebec legislative elections will be held in October and polls indicate that the Parti Quebecois, which wants to break away from Canada, will win the majority of seats.
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The airline told the media that the fire was caused by a “suspected landing gear issue.” Passengers and crew were safely evacuated. (Credit: Aden O’Callaghan via Storyful)
In 2021, Rousseau apologized and promised to improve his French after then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau criticized him for giving a speech almost entirely in English in Montreal, where the airline is headquartered. Quebec Premier François Legault noted that when Rousseau was appointed president of the airline in February 2021, he promised to learn French.
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An Air Canada Express CRJ-900 crashes into a fire truck that was allowed to cross the runway at LaGuardia as a commercial flight was arriving Monday, March 23, 2026. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images/Getty Images)
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Rousseau took over as CEO of Canada’s largest airline in February 2021 and helped Air Canada recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, while apologizing at the time for his poor French. He also faced criticism for his handling of a four-day strike by airline workers last year.
Federal Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon issued a brief statement thanking Rousseau for his contributions to Air Canada, adding that the government will ensure the airline offers bilingual service.
Air Canada’s board will now consider potential successors and says French language skills will be part of the process.
Reuters contributed to this report.
