Virgin Atlantic will consider launching transatlantic services from Paris and Frankfurt following approval of the open-skies agreement by the European Union and US.
The carrier will face competition on routes from Heathrow to the US when routes are liberalised in April 2008.
But Virgin Atlantic sales general manager Paul Wait said: “This is an opportunity for us. We will be looking at Paris and Frankfurt.”
Paris Charles de Gaulle and Frankfurt each offer half as many transatlantic services as Heathrow and slots at the airports would be available.
“We have passengers from France and Germany who come to Heathrow to fly with us. We’ll look at New York from these airports, but other US destinations are on the radar,” Wait added.
He dismissed claims that greater competition at Heathrow will lead to lower fares to the US. “There is already significant competition,” said Wait. “Rates across the Atlantic are the lowest they have ever been.
“If you want cheaper travel, the Government will have to reduce Air Passenger Duty, BAA will have to reduce its charges and the oil companies will have to cut the price of oil.”
He also questioned how easily other carriers could start US services from Heathrow.
“There are very few slots available, and the number of carriers flying to New York from Heathrow will depend on access to them,” said Wait. “Those who have slots need to decide whether they are capable of using them. Have they got the aircraft?”
Wait said Virgin opposed the deal in its current form because “it was an opportunity to open the US market and that has not happened”.
Toby Joseph, sales vice-president of Eos, which flies Stansted-New York, also questioned whether carriers would flock to Heathrow.
He said: “A year ago we would have been very interested in Heathrow. However, given what we have at Stansted now, we will think about whether to move.”