WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Major U.S. airlines are suing the U.S. Transportation Department over a new rule requiring upfront disclosure of airline fees.

Airlines for America, along with American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines, filed suit in the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals late Friday.

This follows the issuance of USDOT's final rules requiring airlines and ticket agents to disclose service fees alongside the airfare, saying it would help consumers avoid unneeded or unexpected fees. The airline group said the department's rule will confuse consumers and its "attempt to regulate private business operations in a thriving marketplace is beyond its authority."

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)