Richmond International Airport began publicly discussing adding a direct flight to Europe last year. (Courtesy SkyShots Photography)
While a major renovation of its main terminal is expected to take years to complete, Richmond International Airport is planning to add a lounge to its offerings sooner rather than later.
The airport is now looking to open a VIP lounge within a year – a slight change in the timeline that was shared at Tuesday’s meeting of the Capital Region Airport Commission.
Space for a lounge is earmarked in plans for the airport’s upcoming consolidated security checkpoint, a $253 million project that’ll significantly transform RIC’s main terminal.
Construction of the checkpoint is planned to take years to complete, so in the meantime, RIC is looking to add a lounge to its Concourse A, airport spokesperson Troy Bell said after the meeting.
“Near-term opportunities are being explored within the current footprint, while long-term planning is aligned with the consolidated security checkpoint, which will create a more prominent post-security location for a premium lounge experience,” he said.
Bell said the airport has had preliminary discussions with “several experienced global lounge developers and operators,” but declined to name specific companies.
At Tuesday’s meeting, however, one of the area’s largest employers came up as a possible lounge operator.
RIC Chief Growth Officer Martin Rubinstein told the commission that the airport has had discussions with a third-party company that builds lounges for Capital One, which operates its own branded lounges at seven domestic airports: New York City’s LaGuardia and JFK airports, D.C.’s Dulles International and Reagan National airports, and in Las Vegas, Denver and Dallas. An eighth is planned for Charlotte.
“We’re exploring options that could allow for Capital One branding at (RIC), because even though we are very small compared to the other airports that have Capital One branding, we have the Capital One offices here,” Rubinstein said.
“When we have international flights and Capital One employees flying out of this airport, they will probably want to see that here, so we think we have a good rationale for that conversation to happen,” he added, referencing the airport’s ongoing effort to bring a direct European flight to RIC.
A rendering of the planned consolidated security checkpoint. (Courtesy Richmond International Airport)
Rubinstein told the commission that conversations are ongoing and emphasized that RIC is looking to open a lounge prior to the completion of the new security checkpoint.
“What I can tell you is that within one year, our plan is to open a VIP lounge,” Rubinstein said.
Construction of the security checkpoint is planned to begin in late 2026.
The commission on Tuesday also voted to amend the lease agreement that it has with embattled budget airline Spirit Airlines.
RIC is now set to reduce Spirit’s physical presence at the airport, namely by reducing the number of ticket counters it leases from six to four, and by eliminating Spirit’s baggage service office.
The amendment comes as Spirit is going through its second bankruptcy in two years. Though the Trump administration is reportedly planning a $500 million bailout for Spirit, the future of the airline is in question.
Scott Knight, RIC’s director of properties and concessions, told the commission that despite the bankruptcy, Spirit is not behind on its rent.
“Spirit is going through a tenuous experience again, and the phone continues to ring on looking for strategies for them and for us to support them,” Knight said.
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