TORONTO - Ferry service between downtown Toronto and the city's island airport is to be suspended for about one hour starting at noon as part of the aboriginal day of action.

Toronto Port Authority spokesman Ken Lundy says the closure is in honour of a request from Chief Bryan LaForme of the Mississaugas-New Credit First Nation.

The aboriginal group has an outstanding land claims dispute centered on the site of the island airport (at the foot of Bathurst Street).

Lundy says the authority agreed to suspend ferry operations for about an hour as a "gesture of understanding.''

Lundy says three ferry crossings will be affected, but adds the ferry will remain on standby to be used in case of an emergency.