American Airlines is considering absorbing Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)'s A West Admirals Club into its Flagship Lounge as soon as March next year, a move that could nearly double the Flagship space. The current Flagship lounge covers 12,500 square feet with capacity for 200 guests, while the neighboring A West Admirals Club covers 11,000 square feet with capacity for up to 181 guests. Merged, the two connected lounges would form a 25,000-square-foot complex.
The airline has confirmed publicly that no lounge plans are final, and the proposed expansion could be completed by spring to prepare for the summer peak. The consideration is aimed at overcrowding during Philadelphia's transatlantic departure bank, when American boosts its European schedule and thousands more weekly passengers pass through the airport. If the takeover proceeds, premium travelers would gain additional Flagship seating, while Admirals Club members using the A West lounge would need to walk farther to the Admirals Club in terminals B and C. Philadelphia is an important base for American, with more than 300 flights recorded daily.