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These problems have been brewing for years.
這些問題已醞釀多年。
International travel more than doubled from 2000 to 2020, thanks to rising discretionary income and cheaper foreign flights, as more low-cost carriers entered the market.
從2000年到2020年，國際旅行增加了一倍多，這得益于可自由支配收入的增加，以及越來越多的低成本航空公司進入市場，國外航班更加便宜。
The pandemic abruptly squelched the swell.
新冠疫情突然壓制了這股熱潮。
Now that restrictions are over, eager travellers are once again boarding flights at near-record rates, putting fresh pressure on the system.
現在限制措施結束了，急切的旅客再次以接近歷史最高的速度登機，給航空系統帶來了新的壓力。
Travel patterns have also changed, meaning there is little let-up.
旅行模式也發生了變化，這意味著旅客幾乎沒有減少。
“Folks are travelling in the shoulder seasons,” says Matthew Cornelius of Airports Council International, a trade organisation that represents airport operators.
代表機場運營商的貿易組織——國際機場協會的馬修·科尼利厄斯表示:“人們在淡季也會出行。”
Travellers are now flying in months that are usually slower, like April and October, “so there isn’t a break for the whole system.”
旅客們在人少的淡季也會出行，比如4月和10月，“所以整個系統都沒有休息。”
This has made it hard for federal agencies to keep up.
這使得聯邦機構很難跟上形勢。
cbp had staffing shortages before the pandemic.
在疫情之前，海關和邊境保護局就存在人員短缺問題。
Now it is short by around 1,000 agents.
現在，該公司還缺約1000家代理商。
The State Department, which issues American passports and visas, is facing a similar problem, as is the Transportation Security Administration (tsa), which controls airport security.
簽發美國護照和簽證的國務院也面臨著類似的問題，控制機場安全的運輸安全管理局(tsa)也是如此。
Fortunately staffing may improve soon.
幸運的是，人員配備可能很快就會改善。
In July tsa officers received a pay rise that was approved by Congress in December, putting them on a par with other federal agencies.
今年7月，運輸安全管理局官方獲得了國會12月批準的加薪，使他們與其他聯邦機構處于同等水平。
That should help with recruitment and retention.
這應該有助于招聘和留住員工。
cbp has also asked Congress for more funding for staffing.
海關和邊境保護局還要求國會為人員配備提供更多資金。
The State Department has been hiring, too.
國務院也一直在招聘。
The agencies will need to act quickly.
這些機構需要迅速采取行動。
Pre-covid, nearly 3m Chinese people visited America a year.
疫情前，每年有近300萬中國人訪美。
Post-pandemic demand for international travel from China is bound to climb.
疫情后，中國對國際旅行的需求必然會攀升。
Waiting times at airports may be bad, but they could get worse.
機場的等待時間可能很長，但情況可能會變得更糟。
