American Express expands Centurion Lounges at Newark and Heathrow, with major upgrades in Houston and Philadelphia

Newark grows to more than 30,000 square feet but its opening slips to 2027, while Heathrow gets a Terminal 5 lounge in 2028. Houston and Philadelphia expansions are being announced, though I already covered both of those. Philadelphia closes October 16 for work lasting into late 2027.

American Express announced four major Centurion Lounge updates, including a new largest-ever lounge in Newark and major expansions in Houston and Philadelphia.

American Express is making another big bet on airport lounges, and its next expansion includes what will become the largest Centurion Lounge in its network. The company announced plans to open new Centurion Lounges at Newark Liberty International Airport and London Heathrow on Thursday, along with plans to significantly expand its existing spaces in the Philadelphia and Houston airports. American Express (Amex) is calling it the largest expansion of the Centurion Lounge network to date. The headline addition is Newark. Amex had previously announced plans for an 18,000-square-foot lounge at the airport, but it has now expanded those plans to more than 30,000 square feet. The two-story lounge is scheduled to open in Terminal A in 2027. Once it opens, American Express says it will become the first credit card issuer to operate proprietary lounges at all three major New York City-area airports. The company already operates Centurion Lounges at John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport. “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,” said Audrey Hendley, president of American Express Travel. “As the Centurion Lounge Network grows, we’re investing in the lounges our Card Members already know and love while continuing to open new spaces.” Amex can’t wait for members “to experience what’s next in Philadelphia, Houston and London,” Hendley added, while Newark’s lounge will be “the largest in our network.” Newark Liberty International Airport [Rendering: American Express] What travelers can expect at Newark The new Newark lounge is leaning heavily into New Jersey, from its food and drinks to its design. It will include a Blue Roast by American Express Coffee and Wellness Bar serving espresso drinks and cold brew alongside smoothies, avocado toast and chia pudding. Travelers will also have three different bars to choose from, including a specialty bar inspired by New Jersey’s diner culture and a Pine Barrens-inspired terrace bar serving gelato, Italian pastries and Italian-inspired cocktails. Food will include dishes from the Culinary Collective by The Centurion Lounge, with James Beard Award-winning Resy chefs Kwame Onwuachi, Mike Solomonov, Mashama Bailey and Sarah Grueneberg among those represented. London Heathrow is getting another Centurion Lounge American Express is also doubling down at London Heathrow. The company plans to open a second Centurion Lounge at the airport in 2028, this time in Terminal 5. The more than 9,000-square-foot space will join the existing Centurion Lounge in Terminal 3, making American Express the first credit card issuer with two proprietary lounges at Heathrow. The new lounge will take design cues from London and the River Thames and include food and beverage offerings, dedicated work areas and a VIP area. London Heathrow [Rendering: American Express] Philadelphia and Houston are getting much bigger lounges American Express isn’t just adding new locations. Two existing Centurion Lounges are getting substantial upgrades. At Philadelphia International Airport, the Centurion Lounge will double from 6,000 to more than 12,000 square feet, spread across two floors. The lounge will temporarily close beginning October 16 for renovations and is expected to be fully updated by the end of 2027. The transformation in Houston will be even bigger. American Express plans to nearly triple its Centurion Lounge at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, taking it from roughly 8,000 square feet to more than 23,000 square feet. The revamped Houston lounge will get a Blue Roast coffee and wellness bar, a specialty dining area with rotating dishes inspired by Houston and Gulf Coast cuisine, and a second full-service bar. It will also add refreshed restrooms and premium shower suites. The project is expected to be completed in 2028. George Bush Intercontinental Airport [Rendering: American Express] The airport lounge race isn’t slowing down The four projects are part of a much broader expansion by American Express. Earlier this year, the company announced a new Centurion Lounge at Boston Logan International Airport, a Sidecar by The Centurion Lounge at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, and an expansion of its lounge at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. American Express currently counts 33 Centurion Lounge locations worldwide. Its broader Global Lounge Collection gives eligible cardholders access to more than 1,550 lounges across 140 countries. The sheer size of some of these new spaces suggests American Express doesn’t expect travelers’ appetite for lounges to disappear anytime soon.

To meet skyrocketing demand, lounge operators like American Express are racing to build bigger, and the Centurion in Newark’s Terminal A will be a giant.