ATLANTA — Some travelers may have a trickier time getting into one of Delta Air Lines Inc.'s airport Sky Clubs soon, now that the airline announced new limits on who can use the lounges in a bid to combat crowding as air travel surges.
The travel website Thrifty Traveler spotted the rules changes from Delta (NYSE: DAL), which operates more than 50 Sky Clubs throughout its network. The lounges are popular among frequent travelers and have gotten more so in recent months, as fliers have returned after two years of avoiding airlines during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to reporting from 11Alive's news partner the Atlanta Business Chronicle.
One result: Sky Clubs are getting crowded, despite Delta fees for members and guests. Delta, metro Atlanta's second-largest employer, saw a boost in demand in the first three months of the year. In the most recent quarterly earnings call with analysts, Delta CEO Ed Bastian said March was the best cash sales month in the airline’s history, despite offering 10% fewer seats.
"With so many returning to travel this year, we are seeing high volumes of Delta Sky Club visitors," Delta said on a FAQ page in response to a question about why clubs are so busy.
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