The Board of Directors of Air Canada has announced that Michael Rousseau will retire by the end of the third quarter of 2026, following nearly two decades of dedicated leadership that has strengthened the airline’s position both domestically and internationally. Rousseau will continue to lead the company and remain on the Board until his departure.
Succession planning has long been a priority for the Board. In line with this, a comprehensive internal development programme for high-potential executives has been underway for more than two years. In addition, an external global search was launched in January 2026 to identify candidates with the skills and experience required to lead Canada’s national airline, headquartered in Montréal, Québec. The Board will assess candidates against a range of performance criteria, including the ability to communicate in French.
Rousseau has recently faced criticism for failing to offer condolences in French—one of Canada’s two official languages—after an Air Canada Express jet collided with a fire truck at New York’s LaGuardia Airport last week, resulting in the deaths of two pilots.
