Finnair has announced it will replace nearly 1,700 seat covers after a cleaning issue forced the airline to ground several aircraft and cancel 70 flights, disrupting travel for more than 11,000 passengers.
The Cleaning Error That Grounded Planes
The Finnish flag carrier said it discovered earlier this month that cleaning aircraft seats with water might have breached fire safety regulations.
A seat manufacturer alerted the airline that it hadn’t been “properly verified” whether washing the seats with water affected the fire protection properties of the material.
As a result, eight of Finnair’s 15 Airbus A321 jets were grounded starting October 13, leading to widespread cancellations and passenger delays.
“Seats are typically washed every two years,” Finnair said in a statement. “Washing is a standard cleaning method for aircraft seats and is used across the rest of Finnair’s fleet.”
Finnair’s Fix: 1,700 New Seat Covers
To resolve the issue, Finnair said it will install around 1,700 new seat covers across the affected aircraft.
The airline has already leased two planes with full crews to help minimize disruption while repairs are underway.
One of the grounded aircraft is already back in service, and Finnair expects all eight planes to return to operation by the end of the month.
“We are deeply sorry for the inconvenience and disruption this has caused to our customers,” said Pekka Korhonen, Finnair’s Senior Vice President for Technical Operations.
“The safe operation of our flights is the foundation of everything we do. Once we received information that the impact of washing on the fire protection of the seat covers had not been verified in the required manner, it was clear that the aircraft had to remain on the ground until the issue was resolved.”
When Will Normal Operations Resume?
Finnair expects the entire fleet of A321s to be fully operational by month’s end, though it warned that some flights may still be canceled until all aircraft are cleared.
The airline has sourced replacement seat covers from multiple suppliers to speed up the process and limit passenger inconvenience.
The Impact
- 70 flights canceled since October 13
- 8 aircraft grounded (Airbus A321s)
- Over 11,000 passengers affected
- 1,700 seat covers being replaced
- Two leased aircraft in operation to reduce disruption
Finnair’s Commitment to Safety
Finnair emphasized that safety and compliance remain its top priorities.
“The safe operation of our flights is the foundation of everything we do,”
— Finnair statement
Despite the setback, the airline continues to maintain its broader fleet operations as normal, ensuring minimal impact beyond the affected A321 aircraft.
