Irish charter airline TransAer says it has agreed a contract worth $20 million (£14.3 million) with Britannia Airways. It brings to more than $80 million the value of contracts which the company has announced this year.

TransAer is based in Dublin, employs more than 600 people and has a fleet of 17 Airbus Aircraft. Last year it carried more than 3 million passengers for a range of operators and airlines, including Aer Lingus, Air France and Falcon Holidays.

The Britannia Airways contract will see TransAer basing three of its Airbus A320 aircraft in Wales and England. As part of the deal TransAer will supply pilots and other cabin crew as well as catering to Britannia, according to a company spokesman. TransAer supplied the service for Britannia last year and it will now run for a further two years.

Running from May to October each year, TransAer expects to carry in excess of 500,000 passengers. In a statement TransAer's chairman and chief executive, Mr P.J. McGoldrick, said the contract was a significant one for his airline. "This deal provides us with the opportunity to further consolidate TransAer's operations in the UK where we now have a significant presence."