Finnair closes "seat case": all A321s back in operation by the end of the month

After the forced stop due to the seat cover issue., Finnair confirmed that all eight Airbus A321s will return to service by the end of October. Six planes will return as early as the next few days, while the last two will complete the replacement of coatings shortly.

The stop had come on October 13, after the seat cover manufacturer reported: The fire resistance of the materials after washing with water had never been checked in a compliant way. The intervention was initiated as a precautionary measure, with the replacement of approx. 1,700 seat covers made by a long-time supplier.

The new covers, now being installed, come from multiple suppliers to ensure quick turnaround time and full compliance with safety standards.

The blockade led to the cancellation of about 70 flights, with inconvenience to over 11,000 passengers. To contain the impact, Finnair has chartered. two manned aircraft and rescheduled part of the European routes, although some cancellations and overbooking cases may occur until the fleet is fully restored.

"We are deeply sorry for the inconvenience and disruption this has caused our customers," said Pekka Korhonen, vice president of technical operations at Finnair.
"The safety of our flights is the basis of everything we do. Once we received information that the impact of the wash on fire protection had not been verified in a compliant manner, it was clear that the planes should remain on the ground until the problem was resolved."

The first A321 has already resumed flying, and others will follow at a rapid pace. With the gradual return of aircraft, Finnair expects to Restore full operation by the end of the month, bringing to a close an incident that, although it originated from a technical detail, confirmed the importance of prevention and rigor in security controls.