Virgin eyes Europe-U.S. flights under "open skies"

LONDON, March 18 (Reuters) - Virgin Atlantic [VA.UL] has begun work on an aggressive plan to launch direct U.S. flights from cities across Europe if the European Union backs a landmark plan to liberalise transatlantic air travel this week.

An "open skies" deal outlined by U.S. and EU negotiators this month and hailed as the most important air travel pact in decades goes to EU transport ministers for review on March 22. "Virgin is exploring direct services to America from several European hubs," said a Virgin Atlantic spokesman.

He said a study was under way that could see Virgin add flights to the United States from Paris, Frankfurt, Milan, Zurich, Amsterdam and possibly Madrid within two years, he said.

Britain's transport minister has voiced concern about the "open skies" deal citing risks to UK carriers Virgin Atlantic and British Airways (BAY.L).

The deal would open London's Heathrow airport to more airlines, exposing Virgin and BA to more competition at their main airport.

Virgin and BA are two of only four airlines allowed to fly from Heathrow to the United States under a deal signed in 1978.

The "open skies" deal would allow others to use the routes, though they would have to buy or swap scarce landing slots at the busy airport in order to do so.