Air Canada appointed Anko van der Werff, the former CEO of Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), as its new chief executive. Van der Werff replaces Mikel Hayhoe, who departs after leading the Canadian carrier since 2019.
The leadership shift carries symbolic weight. Van der Werff speaks seven languages including French, addressing a significant gap from his predecessor. Hayhoe faced criticism for not speaking French fluently, an especially sensitive issue in bilingual Canada where French speakers expect corporate leaders to communicate in their language.
Van der Werff brings airline turnaround experience. He steered Scandinavian Airlines through bankruptcy restructuring and operational challenges, eventually returning the carrier to profitability. His track record includes cost reduction initiatives and network optimization. At SAS, he navigated labor negotiations across multiple Nordic countries, a skillset directly applicable to Air Canada's complex labor environment in Canada.
Air Canada operates the country's largest airline network, serving 220 destinations across North America, Europe, and beyond. The carrier commands roughly 40 percent of domestic market share and faces ongoing competition from WestJet and other carriers. Recent years brought operational disruptions, staff shortages, and customer service complaints that affected reputation.
Van der Werff's appointment signals Air Canada's focus on operational stability and stakeholder communication. His multilingual abilities—including French, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch, and English—address what Canadian regulators and the flying public viewed as a genuine leadership shortcoming. The language skill represents more than symbolism; it enables direct engagement with Quebec's large French-speaking population and federal government officials in both official languages.
The appointment takes effect shortly. Van der Werff inherits a carrier managing recovery from pandemic impacts, elevated labor costs, and competitive pressures on transatlantic and domestic routes. His experience at a smaller European airline transitioning