Finnair, Finland’s national airline, has temporarily grounded eight of its A321 aircraft after discovering that their seat covers were cleaned using a method that did not meet fire safety standards. The decision has led to widespread flight delays and cancellations, affecting more than 10,000 passengers between October 13 and 21.
In a statement, Finnair said it suspended operations for part of its A320 fleet after receiving information from the seat upholstery manufacturer. The company confirmed that the “water washing” method used on the seat covers had not been properly tested for its impact on fire protection.
The airline emphasized that passenger safety remains its top priority and that all maintenance work follows the strict safety requirements of aircraft manufacturers and regulatory authorities. To minimize disruption, Finnair is adjusting aircraft types for daily operations and using partner airline DAT LT of Lithuania to operate certain flights from October 15, though this has resulted in some overbookings.
Passengers impacted by cancellations or overbookings are being notified via text message or email and are urged to keep their contact information updated. Customers can check flight details and make changes through the “Manage booking” feature in the Finnair app.
The airline assured that any passenger missing a connecting flight on the same ticket will automatically be rebooked to their final destination. Finnair has apologized for the inconvenience caused by the issue.
According to Citizens’ Advice, affected travelers may be eligible for compensation of up to £520 if delays exceed three hours or flights are canceled for reasons within the airline’s control. However, compensation does not apply to disruptions caused by factors such as severe weather or air traffic restrictions.
