American Express is working toward opening a new Centurion Lounge at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, it confirmed with What Now Atlanta this week.
On Wednesday, the Atlanta City Council Finance/Executive Committee voted in favor of a resolution authorizing the execution of a special procurement agreement with American Express for the design, construction, and operation of a lounge facility at the airport. The resolution will go to the full City Council, which next meets on Monday, for approval.
It is not yet clear where and when Atlanta’s planned Centurion Lounge, which was first reported by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, would open.
“We are working closely with the Atlanta Department of Aviation to explore options for a new Centurion Lounge at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, however we do not have further details to share at this time,” an American Express spokesperson told What Now Atlanta in a statement. “We look forward to sharing more information later this year.”
Though it has multiple Delta Sky Clubs, an American Admiral’s Club, and a United Club, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport currently has only one lounge offering that is open to passengers flying any airline, according to a summary of the proposed resolution, which was originated by the city’s aviation department.
“This leaves passengers flying the remaining 15 airlines at ATL with only one severely undersized option, even if they are flying in a premium cabin,” the summary reads. “After conducting [a Request for Information], the airport determined that American Express was best suited to build and operate the new premium lounge, including all self-financing of the construction and operation.”
The RFI also produced responses from Plaza Premium Group for its Plaza Premium brand and Airport Dimensions for its brand The Club.
A memo from the city’s chief procurement officer, Martin Clarke, to Department of Aviation Interim General Manager Balram Bheodari notes that “unlike other developers, American Express has the resources to self-finance the $40 million shell construction and provide best-in-class experience for the shared premium customers without the need for generating revenue.”
The lease with American Express would last 10 years and carry two five-year renewal options.
The Centurion Lounge is described by American Express as the signature lounge within the broader American Express Global Lounge Collection. There are Centurion lounges in New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, Houston, Los Angeles, Denver, San Francisco, Miami, and other cities.
3 Responses
40 million for twenty year lease lol. Those will be some pricey cocktails
everything is complimentary in centurion lounge, actually pretty excited about it since delta lounges are pretty underwhelming
Can we get an update on this?