Finnair cancels dozens of flights after grounding eight Airbus A321 aircraft over seat safety inspections

Finnair has temporarily suspended operations of eight Airbus A321 aircraft, forcing the airline to cancel around 20 flights per day this week. The decision follows a notification from the seat manufacturer regarding a potential issue with seat cover cleaning methods that may affect fire protection standards.

According to Finnair, the cleaning of removable seat covers using water washing “has not been properly verified” for its impact on fire resistance. “Safety is always our top priority, and we always follow the manufacturers’ maintenance instructions as well as the guidelines and recommendations of the authorities,” the airline said in a statement.

The suspension affects roughly 40 flights between Monday evening and Tuesday, impacting up to 5,000 passengers. The affected aircraft are part of Finnair’s A320 family fleet, mainly serving European and domestic routes.

Finnair is directly contacting customers affected by the cancellations via SMS and email. Passengers can check the latest status of their bookings through the Manage Booking section on Finnair’s website or in the Finnair app. The airline is offering free rebooking within ±14 days of the original travel date, as well as refunds for cancelled flights.

Due to limited availability, Finnair warns that rebooking may take longer than usual. Hotel accommodation is being arranged for passengers who are already en route and require overnight stays.

The carrier expects some of the grounded aircraft to return to service as soon as October 15, following the completion of additional inspections.