This Philadelphia Airport lounge is closing for months amid a massive expansion
The lounge is doubling its size, adding a coffee bar, and upgrading its amenities. It is expected to reopen by the end of 2027.
The Centurion Lounge at Philadelphia International Airport is set to temporarily close next week as American Express begins a yearlong expansion of the space.
The lounge in Terminal A-West is shutting its doors from Friday, Oct. 16 until sometime next year, American Express announced Thursday. The credit-card company said it plans to double the lounge’s size to more than 12,000 square feet across two stories, add a “coffee and wellness bar,” and upgrade its amenities. The renovated space is expected to reopen by the end of 2027.
American Express did not respond Friday to a question about how much the expansion will cost.
The lounge “will celebrate Philadelphia’s rich history as the nation’s founding city, as well as its creative energy and enduring craftsmanship, with select works by local artists,” according to American Express. Kate Sullivan, chief commercial officer for the airport, said in a statement that the revamped space would be “distinctly Philadelphia.”
An American Express spokesperson said the updated lounge will have a Blue Roast by American Express Coffee and Wellness Bar, serving espresso drinks, cold brew, and rotating seasonal beverages from a local roaster, as well as smoothies and other nutritious food options.
The Centurion Lounge at PHL opened in 2017 for American Express premium cardholders. At the time, it was the company’s eighth lounge in the U.S. Today, it operates its flagship lounges at 16 airports nationwide, and plans to open a 30,000-square-foot, two-story lounge at Newark International Airport next year.
Airport lounges have become more popular — and often more crowded — in recent years. A growing number of credit cards come with lounge access. And travelers without those cards can sometimes pay to get into the spaces with day passes.
Amid this increased demand, analysts expect the airport-lounge market to reach $6.4 billion next year.
Last year at PHL, Chase Sapphire opened a lounge between Terminals D and E, and American Airlines opened neighboring lounges in Terminal A-West. The pay-per-visit Escape Lounges also plans to open an outpost in Terminal D by the end of the year.
The Centurion Lounge is complimentary for those who have the American Express Platinum Card, Business Platinum Card, Centurion Card, and the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Cards, as well as their guests.
Inquirer staff writer Ariana Perez-Castells contributed to this article.
