The CEO of Air Canada will retire later this year, after facing intense criticism for not speaking French in a condolence video following a fatal accident at LaGuardia Airport that resulted in the deaths of two pilots.
Michael Rousseau informed the airline that he will step down by the end of the company's third quarter, as stated by Air Canada on Monday.
Rousseau had faced significant backlash after expressing his condolences exclusively in English, despite one of the deceased pilots, Antoine Forest, being from French-speaking Quebec.
His initial video apology stated that he was unable to express himself adequately in French, an official language in Canada, despite taking lessons over time.
In announcing his retirement, he expressed, It has been my great honour to work with the dedicated and talented people of Air Canada and to represent our outstanding organisation. I look forward to supporting our company during this important transition period.
Air Canada noted Rousseau's departure comes after nearly two decades of dedicated leadership within the airline, headquartered in Montreal.
His failure to provide condolences in both languages drew criticism from political figures, including Prime Minister Mark Carney, who described the gesture as lacking compassion.
Quebec Premier François Legault suggested that Rousseau should resign if he could not speak French.
Rousseau's English-only video was released following a tragic incident where an Air Canada plane collided with a fire truck, killing Forest and fellow pilot Mackenzie Gunther. Rousseau expressed deepest sorrow for everyone affected within the video, which included English and French subtitles but was criticized for not being verbally bilingual.
He later received a summons from Canada's parliamentary committee on Official Languages to clarify his actions before MPs, amid widespread criticism and public outcry.
In his written apology, which he released in both English and French, Rousseau stated he was saddened his language skills drew attention away from the grieving families of the pilots and Air Canada staff. He confirmed his continued efforts to improve his French skills.
Rousseau has consistently faced scrutiny regarding his French proficiency, particularly after he was appointed CEO in 2021, when he also publicly vowed to improve his language capabilities.
Notably, Air Canada is subject to Canada's Official Languages Act, which mandates that communications, particularly in aviation, must occur in both English and French.
