🔥 Trending Anko van der Werff Appointed New CEO of Air Canada

Anko van der Werff is a Dutch business executive and lawyer with extensive experience in the airline industry. He is currently the President and CEO of Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) and is set to become the next President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada by the end of January 2027 ¹⁵⁸.

Career and Experience

Van der Werff has a career spanning over 25 years in international aviation ⁸. His professional journey includes leadership roles at several prominent airlines:

• KLM and Air France-KLM: He held various positions at these European carriers ¹.
• Qatar Airways: He gained experience in the Middle Eastern aviation market ¹⁷.
• Aeroméxico: He served as Chief Revenue Officer at the Mexican airline ¹⁷.
• Avianca Group: He was the CEO of the South American airline group ¹⁷.
• Scandinavian Airlines (SAS): He joined SAS as President and CEO in July 2021 ³⁷. During his tenure, SAS underwent significant transformation, completed a comprehensive restructuring, and strengthened its financial and operational position, becoming known for its punctuality ³.

Recent Developments: Move to Air Canada

Anko van der Werff's name has recently been in the news due to his appointment as the incoming President and CEO of Air Canada.

• Appointment: On July 8, 2026, Air Canada announced that Van der Werff would succeed Michael Rousseau as the airline's chief executive ²⁵⁶. Rousseau had previously announced his retirement in March after facing public criticism related to his omission of speaking French in a corporate video ⁴⁶.
• Transition: Van der Werff is expected to leave SAS at the beginning of 2027 and assume his new role at Air Canada by the end of January 2027 ³⁵⁸.

This move marks a significant leadership change for Air Canada, bringing in an executive with a strong track record in airline restructuring and operational performance ³.