Largest In The Network: American Express Expands Newark Centurion Lounge Before 2027 Opening

Paul has had a career of 25+ years focused on the international technology sector, which has taken him to over 100 countries. Along the way, he developed a deep love for aviation, with a travel bucket list measured by aircraft types flown rather than destinations reached. Now he brings that avgeek passion, along with the journalism experience he accumulated early in his career, to write insightful pieces for Simple Flying.

American Express has announced a major expansion of its planned Centurion Lounge at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), increasing its size by more than two thirds to over 30,000 square feet. When it opens in 2027, the two-story facility will become the largest Centurion Lounge in the company's global network, overtaking its existing flagship location at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). However, NerdWallet reports that the expansion comes with a delay, as the Newark lounge was previously expected to open in 2026.

The announcement is part of American Express' largest Centurion Lounge expansion program to date, encompassing four airports in the United States and United Kingdom. Alongside Newark, the company is planning substantial upgrades to existing facilities at Philadelphia and Houston, as well as a second lounge at London Heathrow Airport (LHR). The investments reflect growing competition among credit card issuers and airlines to attract premium travelers through increasingly elaborate airport facilities.

Newark's New Centurion Lounge Will Be Its Largest Yet

American Express first announced plans for its Newark lounge in 2021, originally envisioning an approximately 18,000-square-foot facility in the airport's redeveloped Terminal A. Audrey Hendley, President of American Express Travel, says the revised plans now call for more than 30,000 square feet across two floors, a footprint approximately 4,000 square feet larger than the current Atlanta flagship:

"Since opening our first Centurion Lounge more than a decade ago, we continue to find ways to meet the growing demand for our premium airport lounge experiences. In Newark, we’re expanding the new lounge from the 18,000 square feet originally announced to more than 30,000 square feet, making it the largest in our network.”

Although passengers will now have to wait until 2027, the expansion represents a considerably larger investment in the New York metropolitan market. Once operational, American Express will become the first credit card issuer with proprietary lounges at all three major New York-area airports: Newark, New York JFK Airport (JFK), and LaGuardia Airport (LGA).

Travel & Leisure reports that the new lounge will feature three distinct bar experiences, including a New Jersey diner-inspired concept, a terrace bar, alongside a Blue Roast by American Express Coffee and Wellness Bar. Food offerings will draw on the company's Culinary Collective, featuring chefs such as Kwame Onwuachi, Mike Solomonov, Mashama Bailey, and Sarah Grueneberg. The aim is to combine the familiar Centurion Lounge offering of complimentary premium food and drinks with locally-inspired experiences that distinguish Newark from the wider network.

Location will nevertheless matter. The lounge will occupy Terminal A, used primarily by American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, and Air Canada, while United Airlines' main Newark operation is concentrated in Terminal C. United offers a post-security shuttle between the terminals, but passengers will need to account for the additional journey when planning a lounge visit. Newark already has an extensive premium lounge offering, including multiple United Clubs, meaning American Express will be entering a competitive market rather than filling an entirely unserved gap.

How Newark Compares With The Wider Centurion Lounge Network

Until Newark opens, Atlanta will retain the distinction of having the world's largest operational Centurion Lounge. Opened in February 2024, the nearly 26,000-square-foot facility features outdoor terraces, a whiskey bar, and dining developed by Atlanta chef Deborah VanTrece. The Centurion Lounge at Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), which opened in October 2025, is another substantial addition at nearly 18,000 square feet, while Newark will be twice the size of its sister lounge at JFK.

This latest investment program also involves substantial expansions at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) and Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), alongside a second Heathrow facility. Philadelphia's existing lounge will close on October 16, before reopening at more than twice its current size by late 2027. Houston's lounge will nearly triple in size by 2028, incorporating new dining and bar facilities. Heathrow, meanwhile, will receive a new lounge in Terminal 5, complementing its existing Terminal 3 location and making American Express the first credit card issuer with two proprietary lounges at the airport.

Beyond these four airports, American Express is continuing to expand its broader international footprint. Its first Centurion Lounge in continental Europe opened at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) in September , bringing the network to 33 locations worldwide. A further facility is planned at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), while the company is also experimenting with smaller Sidecar lounges designed for shorter visits. These developments complement its Global Lounge Collection, which provides eligible cardholders access to more than 1,550 airport lounges across 140 countries, including participating partner facilities.

The Growing Battle For Premium Airport Lounge Customers

The reason for this extensive investment is that American Express is facing increasingly intense competition from both airlines and rival credit card issuers. Chase has expanded its Sapphire Lounge network, including openings in Phoenix and San Diego, while Capital One has introduced its own lounges and restaurant-inspired Landing concept.

Traditional airlines are also investing heavily: Delta's dedicated Delta One Lounges offer premium dining and wellness facilities, while American Airlines continues upgrading its Flagship Lounge portfolio. The result is a market where luxurious airport facilities have become an increasingly important way of distinguishing premium travel products.

However, the popularity of premium airport lounges has also created an uncomfortable problem: overcrowding. American Express has already restricted complimentary guest access for most US Platinum cardholders, generally requiring $75,000 in annual eligible spending to bring guests without charge. Otherwise, guests typically cost $50 per adult or $30 for children aged 2–17. Further restrictions introduced in July require guests to be traveling on the same flight as the cardholder. Such measures underline the challenge of maintaining exclusivity as lounge access becomes a major selling point of premium credit cards.

For American Express, opening larger lounges offers a way to address overcrowding while protecting one of its most recognizable cardholder benefits. The strategy is not without challenges: larger facilities require valuable airport space and substantial investment, while continued growth in eligible cardholders could eventually erode the additional capacity. As American Express prepares to open its record-breaking Newark facility, the question is whether bigger and more sophisticated lounges can continue delivering the exclusivity that premium travelers have come to expect.