Finnair’s Airbus A320-900 aircraft at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport in Vantaa. Finnair is forced to cancel about 40 flights. Photo: Martti Kainulainen / Lehtikuva
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Finnair has cancelled approximately 40 flights after grounding eight Airbus A320 aircraft due to a cabin seat safety concern. The disruption, first reported by Iltalehti, affects around 5,000 passengers.
The issue involves the water-cleaning method used on removable seat covers. According to the airline, the fire-retardant properties of the materials may not have been properly validated after this cleaning process. The affected aircraft operate on domestic and European routes.
Mari Kanerva, Finnair’s communications director, said the cleaning method had been used for some time before the seat cover manufacturer alerted the airline that its impact on fire resistance had not been sufficiently certified.
Following the notification, the aircraft were withdrawn from service on Monday. Flights cancelled include those scheduled for Monday evening and Tuesday. Destinations affected include Rome, Paris, and Brussels.
Finnair is now conducting the required tests to confirm compliance with fire safety regulations. The airline has not provided a timeline for when the aircraft will return to service.
“The duration of the disruption is difficult to estimate at this stage,” said Kanerva. “Safety is the foundation of all operations. We are carrying out the necessary tests and aim to return the aircraft to service as soon as possible.”
The cancellations have come during the autumn holiday travel period in Finland, adding pressure to the airline’s efforts to rebook affected passengers. Finnair is contacting impacted customers directly and attempting to arrange alternative flights.
“This is an unfortunate situation, and we are very sorry for the inconvenience to our customers,” Kanerva said.
The grounded aircraft are all narrow-body Airbus models used on high-frequency European routes. Finnair has not ruled out additional cancellations if the situation continues.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
