US: White House meeting with airline execs as it considers testing domestic travelers for Covid

The White House is holding a meeting with major airline executives on Friday amid industry uproar over the possibility of testing domestic travelers for coronavirus, multiple sources say. The virtual meeting is among the first the new administration has held with airlines, financially crippled by the pandemic and wary of new travel restrictions that could wreak further havoc. Confusion over potential restrictions has shifted into high gear in recent days, as rumors spread about measures under consideration for domestic travel -- as well as how they might affect particular states whose economies depend on travel and tourism. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg exacerbated the alarm this week when he said in an interview that the CDC was considering implementing a domestic travel testing requirement. The aviation industry was caught off guard and sent spinning, according to two sources familiar with the industry's reaction. While the airlines and various groups are usually briefed on major policy rollouts, they were blindsided by the potential new restrictions they insist will eviscerate what little demand for travel remains during the pandemic. Despite the public backlash, one administration official familiar with the discussions said that requiring Covid-19 testing before travel, as well as issuing travel advisories for certain US destinations -- are still some of the options under consideration, which could make for a contentious meeting Friday.<br/>