Finnish airline Finnair was forced to cancel dozens of flights this week after temporarily grounding eight Airbus A321 aircraft after the seat manufacturer notified it of a potential safety issue related to the cleaning method of the covers.
According to a statement from the company, cleaning the removable covers with water “has not been sufficiently verified” in terms of fire resistance, which calls into question compliance with fire safety standards.
“Safety is always our highest priority and we always follow the manufacturers’ maintenance instructions and the recommendations of the authorities,” the airline said in a statement.
The decision affects around 40 flights between Monday and Tuesday, and up to 5,000 passengers. The grounded aircraft are part of the A320 family, which mainly serves European and domestic destinations.
Finnair has already started informing passengers directly via SMS and email, and is offering free rebooking within 14 days of the original travel date or a refund for cancelled flights. The company also warns that rebooking procedures may be delayed due to limited availability, and is providing hotel accommodation for passengers who need to stay overnight.
Finnair estimates that some of the grounded aircraft will return to service by October 15, once the necessary additional checks have been completed.
