Air France-KLM has secured early delivery slots for three newly ordered Airbus A350-900s via a lessor deal. The airline group on 27 January disclosed a follow-up order for three A350-900s and four A350 Freighters to join an existing backlog of 18 A350-900s and four of the in-development cargo variant. The three newly ordered A350-900s are scheduled to join Air France's fleet in 2024, while the previous 18 on-order aircraft will be delivered through late 2025, the SkyTeam carrier says. Responding to an enquiry what facilitated the relatively short delivery schedule for the new orders, Air France says the additional A350-900s will be leased. The group's A350Fs, meanwhile, are scheduled for delivery from the second half 2026. Airbus targets A350F service entry in 2025. Data shows that Air France has received 20 A350-900s since 2019. Of these, 13 are managed by lessors – three by Avolon; two each by Aircraft Leasing & Management, Griffin Global Asset Management, ICBC Leasing and Jackson Square Aviation; and one each by Aviation Capital Group and Tokyo Century.
Airbus's A350 backlog comprises 300 orders for the A350-900, 74 for the -1000, 35 for the freighter variant and one corporate aircraft. In 2022, Airbus laid out a plan to increase A350 production to six per month, from five, early in 2023.

The US Department of Transportation has opened an investigation into the causes behind Southwest Airlines' thousands of flight cancellations in December. The DOT says it is additionally looking into whether the Dallas-based carrier's scheduling of flights during the holiday season was "unrealistic", "which under federal law is considered an unfair and deceptive practice". Southwest has reported that it cancelled more than 16,700 flights in December, incurring a fourth-quarter pre-tax negative impact of approximately $800 million. Flight cancellation rates for US majors Southwest, Delta, American and United increased sharply after 20 December as a severe storm swept eastward from the Midwest and temperatures plummeted. Southwest suffered the worst operational disruption among US majors during the holiday period spanning 20 December 2022 to 2 January 2023, data indicates. The DOT says it is in "the initial phase of a rigorous and comprehensive investigation into Southwest Airlines’ holiday debacle that stranded millions", adding: "DOT has made clear to Southwest that it must provide timely refunds and reimbursements and will hold Southwest accountable if it fails to do so". The department notes that it "will leverage the full extent of its investigative and enforcement power to ensure consumers are protected". Southwest's chief executive Bob Jordan stated on 26 January that the airline is "undergoing a detailed review of the December events", adding: "we are also conducting a third-party review of the December events and are re-examining the priority of technology and other investments planned in 2023". Separately, in January a class-action suit was filed against Southwest, accusing the US carrier of having misled investors about its ability to operate during severe weather. New York-based law firm Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman filed the lawsuit against Southwest and certain of its officers on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Southwest securities between 13 June 2020 and 31 December 2022. The law firm is encouraging such investors to join the class action, which seeks to recover damages for alleged violations of federal securities laws.

Air China has fitted the CL6720 lie-flat business class seats from Recaro on its long-range Airbus A350 aircraft. The Beijing-based carrier has also selected the Recaro PL3530 and CL3710 for A350's premium economy and economy cabins, respectively, the seat manufacturer says. The customised seat features include a Chinese-style lamp in each suite, upper stowage with a drawer, specially made privacy dividers and an Air China customised inner soft-touch back-shell. This marks the first cooperation between Air China and Recaro for a lie-flat business class seat for their long-range A350 aircraft.