Newark Airport Is Getting a New Centurion Lounge

It's October, which means the leaves are changing, giant skeletons are taking over suburban lawns and people are apple-picking pretty much anywhere an apple grows.

The Federal Aviation Administration has issued ground delays for flights out of LaGuardia Airport (LGA), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) as a torrential downpour soaks the tri-state area.

Skift Global Forum is the most anticipated event for the travel industry insiders and travel enthusiasts alike. It’s half thought leadership conference, half essential networking opportunity, and all around way to connect with the ideas and people who are defining the future of travel.

“Fire Island is a very special place, especially for queer people,” Jimi Urquiaga, a.k.a. Missleidy Rodriguez, told me. While that might seem like a statement of the obvious, Urquiaga has experienced the island from an atypical vantage point: for the past two summers, they've been packing up their life in New York City as a costume designer, producer, creative director and drag queen to come work at the Pines’ plant shop, CAMP. Urquiaga called me on their break, sitting behind a desk at the plant shop, with a view overlooking the bay. “So that’s the fantasy,” they said with a laugh after describing their surroundings.

A New York Times columnist complained about spending $78 for a meal at Newark Airport only for the restaurant to clap back at him pointing out that most of his bill was alcohol.

As the leaves start turning, Delta Air Lines is already gearing up to whisk you away for your dream summer vacation.

Amid a turbulent season of delays and cancellations impacting air travel, airline passengers are reporting a higher level of satisfaction with the overall airport experience itself.  The findings come from the new J.D. Power 2023 North America Airport Satisfaction Study, which surveyed 27,147 travelers between August 2022 and July 2023 to find that overall satisfaction with airports is up three percent. Airports in the Midwest took most of the top spots, while passengers traveling through coastal airports reported lower satisfaction.  The Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) was ranked highest overall amongst “mega” airports for the second year in a row. The airport provides air travel for 36.7 million travelers per year and operates over 1,000 daily flights. (J.D. Power defines a mega airport as one with 33 million or more passengers annually.) “We are always looking to raise the bar for customer service as we take Detroit to the world and bring the world to Detroit,” Chad Newton, Wayne County Airport Authority's CEO, said in a statement on the airport’s Facebook page.  Detroit’s airport features a variety of amenities, dining, and shopping including Be Relax Spas, Illy Coffee Cafe, Gordon Biersch, P.F. Chang's, Pandora, and more. The airport also has a Westin hotel attached to it, with a dedicated TSA security entrance that connects the hotel to the airport for travelers on a tight layover to save time.  The top-ranked mega airports, after DTW, are Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) and Harry Reid International Airport in Paradise, Nevada. The lowest-ranked mega airports are Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), and New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).

An annual customer satisfaction survey conducted by data analytics firm J.D. Power revealed on Wednesday the best and worst airports in North America for 2023. And, despite ongoing industry problems surrounding pilot and air traffic control shortages, severe weather, and terminal crowds, overall satisfaction actually increased this year.

An exciting new club is coming down the pike for Centurion Lounge fans—American Express just announced it will bring the first of its popular lounges to Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey.

Wheels Up is again turning to Delta Air Lines for C-suite leadership. After appointing the Atlanta-based airline’s CFO Dan Janki as Chairman last month, the New York-based private jet flight provider is tapping Delta Board Member George Mattson as CEO.

Denver International Airport (DEN) is now home to the largest United Airlines lounge, clocking in at 35,000 square feet. For context, the United Club that opened last year in Newark Liberty International Airport's (EWR) Terminal C is about 30,000 square feet.

It’s official: Amex is expanding its swanky Centurion Lounge to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). Once unveiled, Amex will hold a lounge presence at all three major New York City airports, with Newark joining both New York LaGuardia and New York JFK.