AirFrance English NOT Language of aviation

[MrMutra]

Hello all,

Booked a flight with Air France from Paris, checked in on line, all is well. However, at the gate in Terminal 2F I was prevented from boarding, because I had an emergency exit seat and did not speak NATIVE French.

Air France " do you speak french ?"

Me " no, english, russian, Japanese yes"

Air France person " you must be native french speaking person to sit on the emergency isle."

Me , "but i speak fluent English which is the language of aviation and the signs on board are in English?"

Air France person, " No you must speak Native french on a French reg aircraft, english is NOT the language of aviation "


Can someone explain if this is new EU policy, perhaps a new safety rule ?

Is it policy for all airlines to have Native speaking pax on emergency isle? Alitalia Italian Iberia Spanish etc... ?

What happens when you dont have native speaking pax on board that reg airraft? empty seats ?

Thanks in advance

Mr M