Aviation News – Finnair has temporarily grounded eight of its Airbus A321 aircraft after discovering that water-washed seat covers may no longer meet EU fire-protection standards, disrupting thousands of passengers’ travel plans.
The Finnish flag carrier took the precautionary step on October 13, leading to the cancellation of around 70 flights and affecting approximately 11,000 passengers. The airline has since leased replacement aircraft and begun replacing roughly 1,700 seat covers to restore its fleet’s operational capacity.
The issue arose after maintenance checks revealed that seat covers, once washed with water, might not retain their certified fire-resistant properties—an essential safety requirement under European Union aviation regulations.
A Finnair spokesperson stated, “Passenger safety is our top priority. We acted immediately to ensure all materials used onboard meet the highest safety standards before returning the aircraft to service.”
Finnair expects normal operations to resume once all affected seat covers are replaced and verified. The airline said it is reviewing maintenance and cleaning procedures to prevent similar issues in the future.
This temporary grounding highlights the importance of ongoing compliance with EU aviation safety standards and the operational challenges that can arise from even minor maintenance deviations.
Photo Rob Vogelaar
