American Express Unveils Four Centurion Lounge Changes, Led by Newark Flagship
American Express has announced four updates to its Centurion Lounge network. The Newark lounge, now expected in 2027, will grow to more than 30,000 square feet and become the largest in the collection. It will span two floors in Terminal A and include three distinct bar concepts.
Amex’s latest Centurion Lounge rollout spans U.S. and U.K. airports and is billed as its biggest network expansion. Newark’s Terminal A project is now expected in 2027, larger than first planned at over 30,000 square feet across two floors. It will have three bar concepts, a coffee and wellness bar, and food from chefs including Kwame Onwuachi, Mike Solomonov, Mashama Bailey and Sarah Grueneberg.
A second Heathrow Centurion Lounge is planned for Terminal 5 in 2028, measuring 9,000 square feet and joining the Terminal 3 location that opened in 2021. Amex says Newark would make it the first card issuer with lounges at all three major New York-area airports. Houston’s lounge is also slated to triple.
The expansion could deepen the role of premium credit cards in shaping airport experiences, giving eligible travelers more places to eat, work, and rest. It may also raise expectations for competing lounges and airport amenities, while prompting more consumers to weigh annual fees against access. For airports and nearby businesses, added capacity might ease crowding in some areas but could also concentrate demand around Centurion locations. Travelers without eligible cards may see little direct benefit, though broader industry upgrades could eventually reach them.