VIDEO: Air Canada Celebrates Pride, Gets Some Pushback with 1st All-2SLGBTQIA+ Flight

Air Canada has released a new video celebrating Pride Month, featuring its first ever, all 2SLGBTQIA+ flight crew. While the initiative was meant to embrace diversity, it got some negative reviews on social media.

The video features employees from pilots and engineers to ground staff and cabin crew who identify across the 2SLGBTQIA+ spectrum – Two-Spirit (2S), Lesbian (L), Gay (G), Bisexual (B), Transgender (T), Queer or Questioning (Q), Intersex (I), Asexual (A). 

In an Instagram and Facebook post, the airline says the video “was a heartfelt celebration reflecting our unwavering commitment to inclusivity and equality, in the air and on the ground.”

The post, made on Monday, already has 3,903 likes and 257 comments on Instagram and another 1,300+ likes and 341 comments on Facebook at the time of publishing of this article.

While much of the reaction has been positive, including such comments as: “Education, inclusion and unity are the foundation of a better world, and I’m grateful to see Air Canada leading the way. Keep up the amazing work!”, the UK Daily Mail has reported that the airline was forced to close comments on X after being inundated with negative ones.

‘This is absolutely ridiculous — all we need and care about is competent employees, regardless of what they’re doing in their bedrooms. Get a grip,’ one commenter wrote bluntly.

‘Why would we care who sleeps with whom? At this point in history, is this really necessary?’ another user fumed.

‘I’m sorry, but the safety and well-being of your passengers seems to come second place to virtue signaling,’ another critic added. ‘It will be a cold day in hell before I fly Air Canada.’

As with all social media, it’s not clear what country the negative commenters are writing from.

The airline is a staunch supporter of Pride and has a dedicated section on their website dedicated to Pride celebrations like the ones in Montreal, Ottawa and Calgary encouraging all travellers, “whether you’re a part of the LGBTQ community or an ally, come as you are and spread the love” this summer.

The site also includes a statement from former Air Canada CEO Calin Rovinescu that sums up the company’s view, “Promoting diversity and inclusion is not only the right thing to do, it is also essential for any organization that wants to attract and retain the best available talent.”

We’ve reached out to Air Canada for comment.