Ten years ago, a B2 level in English sufficed to join a French airline.
Candidates would obtain their certification, tick the box, and move on to the next step.
Today, the rules have changed.
The official criteria remain the same, but recruiters now verify what a certificate does not always measure: the ability to hold a fluent conversation.
This shift comes as France shows a marked lag in spoken expression.
According to the EF English Proficiency Index 2025, the French rank 32nd out of 35 European countries for spoken English. A heavy handicap in a sector where interviews are increasingly conducted in English.
Candidates would obtain their certification, tick the box, and move on to the next step.
Today, the rules have changed.
The official criteria remain the same, but recruiters now verify what a certificate does not always measure: the ability to hold a fluent conversation.
This shift comes as France shows a marked lag in spoken expression.
According to the EF English Proficiency Index 2025, the French rank 32nd out of 35 European countries for spoken English. A heavy handicap in a sector where interviews are increasingly conducted in English.
French Companies Raise Their Requirements
En 2022, Air France demandait un niveau B1 avec listening (compréhension orale) et reading (lecture) uniquement. Le speaking (expression orale) n’était pas encore exigé.En 2024, les critères ont évolué : la compagnie demande désormais soit un a minimum B2 on the LILATE, soit un Linguaskill score de B2 dans chacun des trois skills (compétences).
Pour l’anecdote, la majorité des candidats retenus chez Air France et HOP! en 2026 et accompagnés par l’organisme de formation SkySuccess affichaient un niveau C1 au LILATE.
Le TOEIC, dans sa version la plus courante, ne teste que le listening et le reading, pas l’expression orale. Une version avec les 4 skills existe et est acceptée chez French Bee.
Le TOEIC classique n’est d’ailleurs plus accepté par le groupe Air France. Linguaskill et LILATE évaluent les 4 compétences, et les compagnies exigent cette option.
French Bee, qui a récemment ouvert une campagne de recrutement, accepte le Linguaskill B2 ou le TOEIC B2, tous deux avec les 4 skills. Pour le LILATE, le seuil de recevabilité est fixé à C1.
Lors du salon SFMA, plusieurs compagnies françaises et internationales expliquaient que les candidats titulaires d’un C1 étaient valorisés. Certaines testaient même l’anglais directement sur leur stand.
Lire aussi : TOEIC, Linguaskill, LILATE : quelle certification d’anglais choisir pour devenir PNC ?
32nd out of 35 in Europe: the French handicap
The EF English Proficiency Index 2025 measures, for the first time, the four language skills separately. The French results are unequivocal.
In reading comprehension, France scores 555 points. In speaking, it drops to 456 points. Close to a 100-point gap. This gap places France at the 32nd position out of 35 European countries for spoken English. Only Moldova, Turkey, and Italy perform worse.
A Cambridge Assessment English study, echoed by Le Figaro, confirms this finding: the average level of French people in English is around B1. Yet airlines require a minimum B2. Bridging this gap is real.
The explanation is well known. For decades, the French school system prioritized grammar and reading at the expense of speaking.
Many candidates master the rules of the language but freeze when they have to improvise an answer.
In reading comprehension, France scores 555 points. In speaking, it drops to 456 points. Close to a 100-point gap. This gap places France at the 32nd position out of 35 European countries for spoken English. Only Moldova, Turkey, and Italy perform worse.
A Cambridge Assessment English study, echoed by Le Figaro, confirms this finding: the average level of French people in English is around B1. Yet airlines require a minimum B2. Bridging this gap is real.
The explanation is well known. For decades, the French school system prioritized grammar and reading at the expense of speaking.
Many candidates master the rules of the language but freeze when they have to improvise an answer.
Find all articles by Rémi Duchange by clicking here.
How do candidates close the gap?
A challenge for the sector
Against the rankings, the French paradox becomes clear.
French applicants often possess solid theoretical knowledge. But the skill where France ranks 32nd in Europe is precisely the one recruiters prioritize in evaluations.
This raises a question for the sector. With more than 25,000 annual recruitments according to GIFAS and 678 000 cabin crew members to recruit worldwide by 2034 according to the CAE 2025 study, the level of spoken English among French candidates remains a challenge to overcome.
French applicants often possess solid theoretical knowledge. But the skill where France ranks 32nd in Europe is precisely the one recruiters prioritize in evaluations.
This raises a question for the sector. With more than 25,000 annual recruitments according to GIFAS and 678 000 cabin crew members to recruit worldwide by 2034 according to the CAE 2025 study, the level of spoken English among French candidates remains a challenge to overcome.
Who is Rémi Duchange?
Rémi Duchange is the cofounder of SkySuccess, a Qualiopi-certified training organization dedicated to future cabin crew, with nearly 15 years of experience in aviation, including roles as a PNC, cabin chief, and instructor within an international airline.
With his team, he offers a human, bilingual (French/English) and individualized approach: preparation for the LILATE and Linguaskill certifications, personalized recruitment coaching up to hire.
For four years, SkySuccess has helped more than 1,000 students join an airline. The organization supports all profiles, with or without a CCA, beginners or seasoned, thanks to a tailor-made method.
Backed by more than 50,000 followers on Instagram and LinkedIn, as well as its newsletter, Rémi daily shares on his career hub job openings for PNC and ramp agents, as well as tips for succeeding in aviation recruiting.
With his team, he offers a human, bilingual (French/English) and individualized approach: preparation for the LILATE and Linguaskill certifications, personalized recruitment coaching up to hire.
For four years, SkySuccess has helped more than 1,000 students join an airline. The organization supports all profiles, with or without a CCA, beginners or seasoned, thanks to a tailor-made method.
Backed by more than 50,000 followers on Instagram and LinkedIn, as well as its newsletter, Rémi daily shares on his career hub job openings for PNC and ramp agents, as well as tips for succeeding in aviation recruiting.
Published by Paula Boyer 
