Air Canada and leading travel specialists Alba Travel are the latest high profile name businesses to give their support to Blas, the UK’s fastest growing festival and a highlight of this year’s Homecoming Scotland 2009 celebrations.

Both companies are supporting the Blas Grand Finale at Eden Court in Inverness on Saturday 12th September. The show features a mixture of leading Scottish and Canadian acts including Blazin’ Fiddles, The Barra MacNeils, Tread and the Caledonian Canal Cèilidh Trail.

Kate MacIver, Manager for Alba Travel said: “This is our first collaboration with the Blas Festival. It is a quality event which reflects very well our commitment to high standards of service. We also have an excellent working partnership with Air Canada so we’re very pleased that it will bring benefits for Blas. We’re looking forward to seeing more Canadians come here and more Highlanders travelling to Canada as our cultural links are enhanced.”

Robert Atkinson, General Passenger Sales Manager, UK, Ireland and the Nordic Countries said: "Air Canada is very pleased to bring the Canadian connection to Inverness by supporting the Blas Grand Finale. We welcome this new partnership and the opportunity to highlight the festival's strong links with Canada."

Festival Director Donna MacRae said: “We are delighted to have Air Canada and Alba Travel as supporters of the Blas Grand Finale. The festival has deep connections with Canada and this new partnership is great news. We’re very grateful for their support and hope to work with both companies for a very long time to come. Perhaps one day we will even have direct flights between the Highlands and Canada as demand to be at Blas increases.”

Councillor Michael Foxley, Leader of The Highland Council’s Administration said: “We’re sure that enhancing our strong connections with Canada through Air Canada will lead to more exciting opportunities for business and increasing visitor numbers. This support for Blas enhances an already successful 2009 for the festival.”

The festival is supported by EventScotland, the national events agency. Paul Bush, Chief Operating Officer, said: “This is an exciting development for Blas and indicates the major appeal that world-class events in Scotland hold for local people and visitors alike, and will allow for the continued growth of the festival. Scotland and Canada share many cultural and historical links, which have been explored and celebrated during this Year of Homecoming.”