I doubt a "Mad Max" scenario is high on UA's planning charts, as UA has said it (had) hope to open more lounges including some PLs and international UCs in Q4. Might that get pushed out a bit with the Delta/Mu Varient, perhaps, but I think UA is far from giving up on the international markets. Suspect UA still sees this as a transition phrase of unknown duration.

But getting back to the EWR situation, for all the talk if UA is giving up on the EWR flyer -- why then is UA investing in a new club and new Terminal A??

Are things moving slower than most want? -- Yes
Is the present situation undesirable? - Yes

Is UA doing nothing? -- No

UA is trying to ramp up its capital investments but they need to be careful not to get too far ahead of demand. It would be easy / correct to say, that in the case of EWR lounge situation, UA has gotten behind -- unclear the reason for this. And not it is not that UA hates EWR flyers or does not see the issue -- the work on the EWR new lounge counters that. There is more to this story that we do not have insight. But that does not change the EWR lounge situation for passengers.