Finnair to return all A321 aircraft to service by the end of October following seats issue
Finnair is replacing approximately 1,700 seat covers in eight A321 aircraft. Finland’s national carrier indicated that six of the planes will be back in service within a week.
All eight aircraft are expected to be back in operation by the end of the month. Finnair temporarily suspended operations of these aircraft on Monday, 13 October, after having been informed by the manufacturer of the original seat covers that the impact of washing on the fire protection of the seat covers had not been verified in the required manner.
The affected seat covers were manufactured by a long-standing Finnair partner, based on specifications provided by the original seat manufacturer. The covers have been washed in accordance with the information received from the original seat manufacturer. Seats are typically washed every two years. Washing is a standard cleaning method for aircraft seats and is used across the rest of Finnair’s fleet.
As a result of the situation, Finnair has had to cancel approximately 70 flights since 13 October, affecting the travel plans of around 11,000 customers.
“We are deeply sorry for the inconvenience and disruption this has caused to our customers. 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,” says Pekka Korhonen, SVP Technical Operations at Finnair.
New seat covers are now being installed to allow the aircraft to return to service. The first aircraft has already resumed operations, and Finnair expects all eight to be back in service by the end of October. The new covers are being sourced from multiple suppliers.
To support its customers’ travel plans, Finnair has leased two aircraft with crew to operate part of its network. However, some individual flight cancellations may still occur until the full A321 fleet is back in use. Customers may also experience over-bookings or changes in the operating airline. Finnair will contact affected customers directly if there are any changes to their flights.
Related News Stories: BA launching new US route to St Louis Hong Kong Airlines celebrates inaugural flight to Sydney Celebrity Cruises releases 2027-2028 itineraries WTE Miami - TravelMole WTE Miami 2025 Unites the Global Travel Industry, Driving Business ... Titan Travel - TravelMole Qatar Airways - TravelMole Partner News - TravelMole Babble Cloud - TravelMole
TravelMole Editorial Team
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps