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Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau will retire by the end of the third quarter, the airline announced on Monday. The move follows widespread criticism of Rousseau for failing to speak French in a condolence video for two pilots killed in a collision at LaGuardia Airport. One of the deceased pilots, Antoine Forest, was from French-speaking Quebec. Rousseau had faced significant public pressure to resign after delivering his tribute in English only.
He later apologised and said he was unable to express himself "adequately" in French - an official language in Canada - despite taking lessons over the years.
Announcing his retirement, Rousseau said: "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.”
In the same statement, Air Canada said Rousseau was stepping down "after nearly two decades of strong and dedicated leadership" with the airline, which is headquartered in Montreal.
Rousseau's English-only condolence video was criticised by Canadian politicians, including Prime Minister Mark Carney, who said it showed "a lack of compassion".
Quebec Premier François Legault said he believed Rousseau should step down if he was unable to speak French.
The condolence video was released after an Air Canada plane collided with a fire truck at LaGuardia airport in New York shortly after landing, killing Forest and another pilot, Mackenzie Gunther.
Rousseau expressed "deepest sorrow for everyone affected" in the video, which was posted on X and included both English and French subtitles. He was quickly criticised afterwards for failing to speak French in it and was summoned to Ottawa by Canada's parliamentary committee on Official Languages to "explain himself" before MPs.
Rousseau later apologised in a written statement released in both English and French, saying he was deeply saddened his inability to speak French "diverted attention" from the pilots' grieving families and Air Canada staff.
He added that his French remained weak "despite many lessons over the years".
