WASHINGTON, Feb 20 (Reuters) - The United States still believes it can reach a deal with Kyrgyzstan to maintain its air base there despite the central Asian country giving formal notice that the site must close, the Pentagon said on Friday.

"We don't consider it a closed matter," Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said. "We will continue our discussions with the government for possible continued future use of the base."

The Manas air base is a key hub for moving personnel and equipment into Afghanistan for U.S. and NATO forces.

Kyrgyzstan's parliament voted on Thursday to close down the base. The country's foreign ministry sent the United States a formal notice on Friday confirming the decision, which gives Washington 180 days to shut down the base.

Whitman said confirmed the United States had received the notification.

He said Washington was willing to look at "reasonable increases in usage fees" for the base but declined to be more specific. The United States currently pays $17.4 million per year for use of the base. (Reporting by Andrew Gray, editing by Jackie Frank)

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