Airline to fly cargo to ice-bound coastal Labrador

Air Labrador is going tomove mail and food supplies into southern Labrador, because of problems with heavy ice conditions in the Strait of Belle Isle.

TheMVApollo, currently tied up in Corner Brook, has not been able to make its regular ferry run between western Newfoundland and the mainland for a week because of ice.

An airline spokesperson said the flight schedule is contingent on weather. Flights cannot currently leave because of runway conditions, both in St. Anthony and Blanc Sablon.

Stranded ferry passengers and southern Labrador business owners have become frustrated over the ice situation.

Forteau business owner Gaius Trimmsaid no ferry service has meant no fresh food in southern Labrador.

"There's not a litre of milk to be got besides Grand Pr [UHTmilk]from Quebec into the south coast of Labrador and I think it's the same can be said from the Quebec border, [and it's] the same that can be said from the Quebec border to Cartwright," said Trimm.

The Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker Henry Larsen is scheduled to return to Corner Brook later this week to help theApollo resume its route.