VOA标准英语2009年-Weather Affecting Holiday Plans Worldw

（单词翻译）

Photo: VOA
Ice. Snow. Flights canceled. Weather stalls¹ travel in US and Europe

Many people worldwide travel to family celebrations for Christmas and the New Year.  But this December, getting to those celebrations requires a mixture of patience and cooperating weather.  So far, the weather has been unyielding, affecting travel for those holiday revelers. 

It may look like a perfect winter holiday scene. But inside several American airports, the picture is nothing to celebrate.

A weekend blizzard² dropped hip-deep snow on much of the eastern United States.  In New York alone, more than a thousand flights were canceled.

But that's the problem. Holiday flights are always booked and overbooked.  So with the winter weather playing havoc³, the airlines are having trouble re-scheduling travelers.

"There were virtually a day and a half worth of flights that were canceled as a result of this storm," says Jim May with Air Transport Association. "...so that's a lot of people who have to be re-accomodated."

But here's how it looks in London.  Ice. Snow.  Flights canceled.  And in Germany -- the autobahn blocked for hours.

Eurostar, the high speed train linking Britain, France and Belgium, is finally running again,  after a three day stoppage.  On Friday, the weather caused five trains to fail inside the Channel Tunnel.  The delay stranded⁴ 2,500 passengers and affected⁵ thousands more,  many on holiday trips.

For others, their wish is simply to arrive on time for the holiday.