Air Canada CEO steps down following a language row
Air Canada CEO Michael Russo has announced that he will step down by October 2026 following a controversy over the lack of use of the French language.
This was reported by Reuters.
The controversy arose following the crash of an Air Canada Express aircraft at LaGuardia Airport, in which two pilots were killed.
Following the tragedy, the company’s CEO released a video statement in English only, without addressing the public in French, which is Canada’s second official language. This drew sharp criticism, particularly in the province of Quebec.
Rousseau later apologised, but the scandal had already taken on political dimensions.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney supported the decision to replace the company’s CEO and stated that Air Canada’s next CEO must be fully bilingual.
According to him, the head of the national airline must be able to communicate in both English and French, particularly during crises.
The language issue in Canada is a highly sensitive topic, particularly in the French-speaking province of Quebec, where there have historically been strong movements for independence and the protection of the French language. It was there that the provincial parliament passed a resolution calling for the CEO’s resignation.
Furthermore, Air Canada is legally obliged to serve customers in both languages in accordance with Canada’s Official Languages Act.
Air Canada CEO Michael Russo: what is known about him
Michael Russo has led Air Canada since 2021. He oversaw the company’s recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic, but has been repeatedly criticised for his limited knowledge of French. The company will now accelerate its search for a new leader.
Air Canada shares initially fell by more than 2% following the news, but later recovered somewhat.
Reuters notes that this is a rare case where the CEO of a major corporation is stepping down not because of financial or business issues, nor because of a corruption scandal, but because of language and identity politics. In Canada, language is a political issue, and large companies must take these cultural and political nuances into account.
