United Airlines will reconsider the possibility of adding flights between Denver and London in light of a new agreement that partly liberalizes trans-Atlantic travel.

The agreement, approved Thursday by the European Union, relaxes most restrictions on service between the U.S. and Europe. United expressed some interest two years ago in flights from Denver to London's Heathrow Airport but said its hands were tied by those restrictions.

Now, though, "the regulatory barriers to Denver-Heathrow service have been removed," said Michael Whitaker, United's senior vice president of alliances, international and regulatory affairs. "For competitive reasons we're very careful not to discuss new routes . . . but we're certainly going to look at new opportunities" in Denver and elsewhere.

The landmark accord, effective in March of next year, gives a boost to United's overall strategy of expanding internationally rather than domestically.

Supporters of the agreement say it will increase international travel, open up new routes, create jobs and lower fares on trans-Atlantic flights.

A key element involves the elimination of rules that have prevented most U.S. carriers from flying to Heathrow, one of world's busiest international hubs. Currently, United and American are the only carriers in the United State that can fly there from some - but not all U.S. cities. Under Thursday's agreement, any U.S. carrier can serve Heathrow, provided it can get the necessary airport slots.

Denver already has one flight to London, operated by British Airways. Other nonstop European service consists of Lufthansa flights to both Frankfurt and, starting next week, Munich in Germany.

United is in a prime position to add new flights at Heathrow, where it has a large presence and "a fair amount of flexibility in adding and subtracting" flights, Whitaker said. Still, observers are skeptical as to whether the new agreement will mean much in Denver in the long run.

walshc@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2744