US Transportation Security Administration announced that 22 US carriers have 30 days to arrange payment of a combined US$219 million in back security fees, Bloomberg News reported.

Money owed is to cover the January 2005-March 2007 period, TSA said.

Airlines owing the most are Southwest (US$54 million), American (US$40 million), Delta (US$32 million) and US Airways (US$18 million), Bloomberg said.

Air Transport Assn. told the news service that it intends to challenge the order and will go through the courts if necessary.