WASHINGTON, May 16 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden on

Thursday signed sweeping aviation legislation to boost U.S. air

traffic controller staffing, increase funding to avert runway

close-call incidents and speed refunds for canceled flights.

The $105 billion, five-year measure prohibits airlines from

charging fees for families to sit together, requires airplanes

to be equipped with 25-hour cockpit recording devices bill and

raises maximum civil penalties for airline consumer violations

from $25,000 per violation to $75,000.

Biden has repeatedly clashed with air carriers, calling for

new stricter consumer rules and harshly criticizing them for

imposing fees. His administration has also aggressively moved to

block further consolidation in the passenger airline industry.