Quick thread on where things stand with the possibility of a testing requirement for domestic flights in the U.S.

(Based on this story for subscribers from yesterday)

https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2021/02/09/aviation-industry-tries-to-stave-off-domestic-covid-testing-mandate-9425389

CDC and other Biden administration officials have notably refused to rule it out, even though it would be a dramatic rampup and require increasing daily testing in the country by 42 percent.

The argument is simple, though: it would be a way to slow Covid spread through travel

The aviation industry (airlines, unions, manufacturers, travel companies) is in a full court press to try to stop the Biden admin from taking that step, arguing that it would be hard to scale, not practical, disproportionately harm poor Americans, and badly hurt the industry

Members of Congress from both parties seem to share the airlines' concerns about practicality. Here's House Transportation chairman Peter DeFazio' thinking:

And lastly an interesting sidebar from @davidalim: The testing lobby says it is in fact ready to expand testing if need be.