With American Airlines reopening its Flagship Lounge at DFW International Airport Wednesday, it’s signaling to passengers that overseas travel is more than back two years after it cratered in the aftermath of global COVID-19 restrictions.
Fort Worth-based American Airlines has gradually been reopening its lounges throughout the last several months, bringing back the comfort spaces for elite and international travelers. American has already reopened lounges in Miami, Los Angeles and at New York’s JFK International Airport, but the lingering COVID-19 protocols and surges have prompted the carrier to take a slow approach to bring back one of its biggest perks for travelers.
American has yet to reopen the final Flagship Lounge, which is at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, but that should come this spring.
The lounge in Terminal D at DFW reopens Tuesday morning at 5 a.m., in time for the earliest premier travelers to lounge before a morning flight, grab a buffet breakfast or eat in the Flagship First dining section, a full-service restaurant where meals and drinks are complimentary for those who qualify or are willing to pay.
“I think it really signifies that travel is returning,” said Raphael Girardoni, American’s managing director of premium guest services. “And we’ve certainly seen that as we’ve reopened the other locations, that they’ve they’ve been really, really popular.”
American and other carriers are planning an aggressive summer schedule for overseas travel, particularly considering the fact that some countries, such as China, are still largely closed off to tourists. American has 65,382 international flights scheduled between June and August this year, compared with 70,222 during the same stretch in 2019. And American already had to reduce summer flying schedules because of delivery problems with its Boeing 787 jets.
After a…