Overview
- Finnair temporarily suspended operations of eight Airbus A321s on October 13 after learning the impact of water‑washing on seat‑cover fire protection had not been properly verified.
- Roughly 70 flights were canceled, disrupting travel for about 11,000 passengers, with some schedule changes continuing until the fleet is restored.
- The airline is installing approximately 1,700 new seat covers sourced from multiple suppliers, and it says one aircraft has already returned to service.
- Finnair expects all eight A321s to be back in operation by the end of October and has wet‑leased two aircraft with crews from DAT LT to reduce disruption, though overbookings and isolated cancellations may persist.
- In messages to affected customers, Finnair has characterized the issue as an external design or manufacturing defect and cited EU 261 ‘extraordinary circumstances’ to contest standard cash compensation.