American Express is to open a second Heathrow Centurion Lounge, this time in Terminal 5, as part of what the card issuer describes as the largest expansion of its Centurion Lounge network to date.
The programme covers four airports. Alongside the London addition, the company will open a new flagship at Newark Liberty International Airport and enlarge and refurbish its existing lounges at Philadelphia International Airport and Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport, three US gateways that UK travellers use for transatlantic work trips.
The new London lounge will cover more than 9,000 square feet and is designed to complement the existing Centurion Lounge in Terminal 3. American Express says the design will draw on the River Thames and London’s diverse cultural influences, with premium food and drink, dedicated workspaces, comfortable seating areas and a VIP section. Once it opens, American Express will be the first card issuer with two dedicated lounges at the airport.
The Terminal 5 lounge is expected to welcome guests in 2028, so nothing changes for travellers in the short term. Until then, the Terminal 3 site remains the only Centurion Lounge at the airport.
The location matters. Terminal 5 is the main base of British Airways, and a new Heathrow Terminal 5 lounge run by a card issuer would give eligible card members somewhere to work that does not depend on airline status or cabin class. Anyone planning around the airport in the meantime will find terminal, security and lounge advice in our Heathrow airport guide.
Newark flagship will be the largest in the network
The biggest single project is at Newark Liberty International Airport, where the planned Terminal A lounge has grown from the 18,000 square feet originally announced to more than 30,000 square feet across two floors. That will make it the largest Centurion Lounge anywhere, and it is scheduled to open in 2027.
When it does, American Express will become the first credit card issuer to operate its own lounges at all three major New York metropolitan airports. Plans include a Blue Roast by American Express Coffee and Wellness Bar, several themed bars, locally inspired dining and menus created through the Culinary Collective by The Centurion Lounge, featuring dishes from James Beard Award-winning chefs. Our guide to Newark Liberty for UK business travellers covers the terminals and the train into Manhattan, while the JFK airport guide does the same for New York’s main international gateway.
In Philadelphia, the lounge will double from 6,000 square feet to more than 12,000 square feet over two levels. Renovations begin on 16 October 2026, with completion targeted for the end of 2027. The announcement does not set out how access will be affected during the works, so it is worth checking before you travel.
Houston’s lounge will nearly triple in size to more than 23,000 square feet, adding a specialty dining area, a second full-service bar, enhanced shower facilities and more seating. That redevelopment is expected to be completed by 2028.
What the expansion means for business travel
Audrey Hendley, President of American Express Travel, said demand for premium airport lounge experiences continues to grow, with the company investing in both new locations and improvements to existing ones. The latest plans follow previously announced openings at Boston Logan International Airport and Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
American Express says eligible card members now have access to more than 1,550 airport lounges across 140 countries through its Global Lounge Collection, including 33 Centurion Lounge locations. Not every card qualifies, so travel bookers should check the American Express lounge access rules for the cards their staff actually carry.
For companies, the practical point is timing. With the second Heathrow Centurion Lounge not due until 2028 and Newark a year earlier, none of this changes the next round of trips. It is, though, relevant to firms reviewing card programmes or travel policy over the next two years. American Express airport lounges bundled with a card can reduce spending on paid lounge entry, and give staff a reliable place to work before a long flight.
