Delta's new Sky Club airport lounge at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.
Leslie Josephs/CNBC
Delta AirlinesPopular airport lounges are getting a more exclusive level, in the airline's latest attempt to cater to big-spending travelers.
The first “premium” lounge will open in June at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport and will be the airline's largest lounge at 38,000 square feet, Delta said Thursday. Other high-end Delta lounges will open later this year in Boston and Los Angeles.
Delta has been building its network of Sky Clubs in recent years to cater to swarms of travelers as more and more people gain access through memberships, airline status, credit card benefits or flying in a premium cabin. Last year, Delta said it would limit access to its lounges in coming years, but softened some changes after uproar among customers.
The new strategy shows Delta is moving away from a one-size-fits-all approach for its airport travelers. The airline agrees United Airlineswhich operates Polaris lounges, and US airlines' with flagship lounges and standard airport clubs.
Delta has not disclosed the entry requirements for the new lounges. It says the JFK location will have a full-service restaurant and “wellness areas.”
Delta also said it plans to open standard Sky Clubs in Charlotte, North Carolina and a new location in Seattle later this year. The airline plans to expand clubs in Miami and New York LaGuardia.
The new clubs come as Delta focuses on the increasing importance of travelers flying at the front of the plane. The airline said “premium” revenue from business class or premium economy tickets rose 26% last year to $19.1 billion in revenue, while sales of main cabin air tickets rose 20% to $24.5 billion dollars.