US: Airlines push back on potential Covid testing for domestic flights

The US this week started requiring travelers to show negative Covid-19 tests before flying to the US from abroad. Now the Biden administration is “actively looking” at whether to mandate Covid-19 tests before domestic flights, a senior Centers for Disease Control and Prevention official said Tuesday. Airlines balked. Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly asked on a quarterly call Thursday, “Why pick on air travel? “If you want to test people, test them, but test them before they go to the grocery store. Test them before they go to a restaurant,” Kelly said. “Test them before they go to a sporting event.” On Wednesday, the US Travel Association, an industry group that represents large hotel chains, Airbnb and several airports said the plan would be “unworkable,” because Covid testing availability varies so much across the country. The travel industry and airlines in particular have been among the hardest-hit businesses in the coronavirus pandemic. Travel restrictions aimed at stopping the disease from spreading around the world and concerns over catching the virus has devastated demand. Domestic testing requirements could further impact bookings, which airline executives this week warned aren’t likely to rebound until more people are vaccinated.<br/>