WASHINGTON, May 15 (Reuters) - The U.S. Transportation

Department said on Wednesday it will fine Mexican carrier

Volaris Airlines up to $300,000 for airport tarmac

delays that violate federal law.

Federal law and government regulations prohibit tarmac

delays of four hours or more on international flights without

providing passengers an opportunity to deplane.

The department said that in 2021 in Houston, a Volaris

flight remained on the tarmac for a lengthy period without

allowing passengers to deplane. A similar incident occurred in

St. Louis in 2022.

Volaris will pay $150,000 of the fine and must pay the other

$150,000 if it violates the tarmac rules again within a year.

The department has issued similar fines in recent years.

"This enforcement action reflects our ongoing commitment to

protecting consumers and holding airlines accountable,"

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement.

Volaris said the delays were caused by "the saturation

of air terminals."

"Volaris fully complies with the laws and regulations

applicable in all the countries in which it operates,

prioritizing the safety of passengers and maintaining strict

operational control," it said in a statement.

The department said in January 2023 that it planned to seek

higher penalties from airlines and others that broke consumer

protection rules, saying they were necessary to deter future

violations.

In August, it fined American Airlines ( AAL ) $4.1 million

for unlawfully keeping thousands of passengers on the tarmac for

hours, the largest-ever penalty for violating the rule.

American told the department the delays were the result of

exceptional weather events, and that the 43 impacted flights

represented less than 0.001% of the approximately 7.7 million

flights operated.

In April 2023, the department imposed a $135,000 penalty on

British Airways over a 2017 tarmac delay in which it failed to

ensure the timely deplaning of passengers.