Discover Why Finnair Canceled 40 Flights in Two Days Due to Clean Seats Issue
Finnair, Finland’s national airline, recently canceled over 40 flights due to an unexpected issue related to seat cleanliness. The airline suspended operations for eight Airbus A321 aircraft after discovering that the seat covers had been washed with water. This method raised concerns about the fire protection properties of the materials used.
Reason Behind Flight Cancellations
The cancellations occurred on October 13 and 14, impacting around 20 flights each day. Finnair announced the situation as an airworthiness concern, emphasizing the need for additional inspections.
Details on the Affected Aircraft
Of the eight A321s under scrutiny, seven have already been identified. These include:
- OH-LZM
- OH-LZN
- OH-LZP
- OH-LZU
- OH-LZO
- OH-LZR
- OH-LZT
(returned from Oulu)
(returned from Malaga)
(returned from London)
The eighth aircraft, OH-LZS, has been in maintenance in Prague since September 28.
Expected Stabilization of Operations
Finnair intends to resolve this issue promptly. Three of the grounded aircraft are scheduled to return to service by October 15. This suggests that the airline may achieve stability in operations soon.
Finnair expressed regret regarding the inconvenience caused by this extraordinary situation. The unexpected grounding due to overly thorough cleaning highlights the important balance between cleanliness and safety in aviation.
