Transaer, the Irish charter airline controlled by Mr P.J. McGoldrick, has won a $15 million contract to provide a new air service for Kosovo, the UN protected break-away province of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

Air Kosiva will be based in Switzerland and TransAer will provide an Airbus 320 and crew for 18 months under contract. Thirty staff will be deployed initially. Up to six TransAer planes could fly on routes from Pristina to Geneva, Zurich, Vienna and Rome within 12 months.

The project is backed by the Foundation for the Reconstruction of Kosovo, a US based trust fund which is also redeveloping Pristina airport. TransAer will also provide training and management consultancy services to Air Kosiva. The Irish company claims to be the largest independent charter airline in Europe, with revenues of £122 million, a fleet of 17 Airbus aircraft and 700 employees. It has contracts with Libyan Airlines and Cubana of Cuba.