No decision is imminent, but Salt Lake is one of 40 locations under consideration by San Francisco-based Virgin America, spokesman Gareth Edmondson-Jones said.

"We are considering a number of cities for service beyond our initial launch. The criteria are that these are expensively served or underÂserved destinations from San Francisco, or there is not a lot of low-fare competition," Edmondson-Jones said.

Virgin America has conducted talks with Salt Lake City International Airport, but they have not progressed to discussions of routes or timetables, airport spokeswoman Barbara Gann said Thursday.

"They are one of the airlines that we've had continuing discussions with. One of the airport's major goals is to keep a strong mix of airlines, so we greet this with interest and are supportive."

On May 16, the Department of Transportation gave Virgin America final approval to begin flights inside the United States. The company will launch its first route, between San Francisco and New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, sometime this summer.

The airline also plans to fly to 10 cities within a year, including Los Angeles, Washington, San Diego and Las Vegas.

Virgin America intends to compete as a low-cost airline that offers first-class service. The airline has ordered 33 Airbus A320 jets, short- to medium-range aircraft that can carry up to 179 passengers.

The carrier recently unveiled a prototype of its cabin, which included first-class seats with 55 inches of legroom, massage chairs, mood lighting and digital in-flight entertainment providing on-demand movies, TV, games, music and an online chat room. Virgin aircraft will even offer self-service mini-bars for snacks and drinks.

Virgin Group owns 25 percent of the airline, with investors Cyrus Capital Partners of New York and Black Canyon Capital in Los Angeles controlling the rest, Edmonson-Jones said.

pbeebe@sltrib.com