Michael Rousseau, Air Canada’s CEO, to Step Down Amid Backlash Over Comments After Crash NYT | Top Stories Kailyn Rhone 31 March 2026 at 02:10 Michael Rousseau’s mostly English statement after a fatal runway collision drew sharp criticism. The airline said it would emphasize French fluency in its search for a successor. © Nick Lachance/Toronto Star, via Getty ImagesMichael Rousseau, an Air Canada veteran, took over as chief executive of the airline in 2021.