古巴准备迎接第一架美国航班的到来 Cuba Prepares for First US Flight to the Island

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古巴正在为半个多世纪以来第一架美国商业航班在这个共产党国家着陆做准备,这是两国关系正常化的最新一步。

古巴民航学院的负责人科尔德罗说,古巴将为本周的航班以及纷至沓来的美国航班做好准备。预计今后几年内每天航班将增至110架次。

他说:“我们已经成功地对做好了人员准备,在获取足够资源的情况下,我们现在可以保证达到国际民航标准所需要的安全水平。”

古巴副交通部长罗德里格斯表达了同样的意思。他说:“过去几年,古巴机场一直在为游客的增加进行系统化的准备。”

美国捷蓝航空公司的飞机星期三将从佛罗里达州的劳德代尔飞往古巴的圣克拉拉,成为第一架飞往古巴的美国商业航班。

包括美航、边疆、银色、西南和太阳城在内的其它美国航空公司正在计划提供飞往古巴的业务, 美国法律禁止大多数美国游客访问古巴。但是,奥巴马总统授权其它形式的旅游除外,例如探亲、公务、记者访问和教育之旅等。

Cuba is preparing for the first U.S. commercial flight to land in the communist country in more than five decades, the latest step in normalizing relations between the two nations.

The president of the Cuban Civil Aviation Institute, Alfredo Cordero, said Cuba will be ready for this week's flight as well as the influx of U.S. flights -- expected to grow to as many as 110 per day within the next several years.

"We have successfully prepped our personnel and, in acquiring access to the necessary resources, we are now able to ensure we meet the required level of security demanded by international civil aviation standards," Cordero said.

Cuba's Vice Minister of Transportation Eduardo Rodriguez echoed those comments, saying "Cuban airports have been systematically preparing over the past few years for the increase in tourists to Cuba."

The first U.S. commercial flight will take place Wednesday when Jet Blue will fly from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to the central Cuban city of Santa Clara.

Other U.S. air carries that are planning to begin airline service to Cuba include American Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Silver Airways, Southwest Airlines and Sun Country Airlines.

U.S. law still prohibits most tourist visits to Cuba. However, President Barack Obama has authorized exceptions for other types of travel, including family visits, official business, journalist visits and educational tours.