American Airlines offers a pick-up and drop-off lounge at JFK Airport in New York

American Airlines It plans to open a new lounge at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport by the end of this year, its first new facility at the airport in more than four years, as it continues its fight for high-paying customers to close the profit gap with… Delta Airlines and United Airlines.

The new 3,700-square-foot lounge will feature a barista bar serving hot and iced coffee drinks as well as hot and cold foods for passengers to grab.

Airlines have been adding more of these short-haul lounges in recent years to give credit card holders and big spenders access to space without the crowding of big airport clubs. united Its first launch is announced for late 2022, for Denver International Airport.

Airlines and credit card companies alike have raised entry requirements or cut back on freebies like guest tickets to avoid overcrowding.

American opened its first lounges, which it calls “Provisions,” at Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina last year.

American operates out of Terminal 8 at JFK, which is shared by its Oneworld Alliance partners, Japan Airlines, Alaska AirlinesBritish Airways and others.

It has three upscale lounges for business class passengers, first class passengers and other elite long-haul frequent flyers, which the airline opened there in 2022. It also operates the Admirals Club there which is used more for lounge membership customers. American has not updated its space in New York recently as it has done with those in other cities like Chicago and Austin, Texas.