Planes, ferries to and from Block Island suspended

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Winter storm Hercules has cutoff Block Island from the mainland as New England Airlines canceled flights to the island and Interstate Navigation Company suspended the Block Island Ferry.

After one round-trip flight between Westerly and Block Island Thursday morning, New England Airlines canceled service to the island because the airport there closed. A spokeswoman for the airline said she hopes service will be able to resume Friday afternoon.

The news was the same for the Block Island Ferry. After one run from Point Judith out to the island at 6:30 a.m. and one run back at 8:15 a.m., heavy seas canceled remaining ferrys on Thursday.

Interstate Navigation Company operations manager Christian Myers said that service will be restored by Saturday, but that Friday is still up in the air. “We’re just waiting to see what happens overnight, how quickly this blows through.” He said he should know by 7 a.m. Friday what that day’s schedule will be.