Southwest Airlines criticized by passengers, Transportation Department as flights delayed nationwide

Thousands of Southwest Airlines flights were delayed or canceled nationwide on Monday, leading to growing criticism of the airline from disgruntled passengers and the federal government.

The airline canceled 2,886 flights on Monday, or 70% of scheduled flights, amid a winter storm impacting portions of the country, according to flight tracking website FlightAware. Every airline has had to cancel or delay flights over the last several days, but Southwest's totals are particularly high.

Of the more than 160 flight cancelations and more than 340 delays at Los Angeles International Airport that left passengers stranded as they attempt to return home after Christmas, 106 of the cancelations and nearly 30 delays were from Southwest flights, according to FOX 11.

Southwest said they are rebooking as many customers as possible and that people who have had flights canceled may ask for a refund or receive a credit, although rebooking depends on open seats on available flights.

Passengers at LAX said the earliest the airline could rebook their flight was December 31. Southwest Airlines' website shows there are no flights available departing LAX for Sea-Tac (SEA), New York (LGA) or San Francisco (SFO) through December 31.