Collinson to add 150 new luxury airport lounges to Priority Pass network in 2021

INTERNATIONAL. In a vote of confidence for travel sector recovery, Collinson-owned Priority Pass – the leading global airport lounge programme – will add over 150 new luxury airport lounges worldwide across 2021.

Along with 100 new premium dining and relaxation experiences and railway/sea port lounges set to be completed this year, the expansion represents a +20% growth for the network.

Collinson cited encouraging growth in domestic travel in the US, China and Russia as a prime reason for its confidence to make the  investments, together with the recent news that the EU will welcome vaccinated travellers without restrictions.

The company also noted that the needs of travellers have changed, “with premium experiences more in demand than ever”.

Priority Pass has already added 32 new airport lounges and eight new premium dining experiences so far this year. These include Lufthansa business lounges in New York JFK, Newark International and Washington Dulles airports and 14 lounges in China. Other new lounges have been added in countries including Russia, Turkey, Egypt and India.

The Priority Pass network is a mix of partnerships as well as lounges owned by sister company Airport Dimensions. Both are owned by Collinson Group. Airport Dimensions has continued opening new lounges and sleep and rest experiences during the pandemic and its parent company said it is positioned to achieve a +483% growth in locations since 2015.

As reported, Airport Dimensions recently announced new lounges are to open later this year at Cleveland Hopkins International and Charlotte Douglas International airports in North Carolina. These add to previously announced lounges under development in the new Harvey Milk Terminal at San Francisco International Airport and at Abu Dhabi International Airport, and all will be included in the Priority Pass network.

Collinson Joint CEO David Evans said: “Our investment in Priority Pass is a clear reflection of our confidence in the travel recovery, which our research has shown will also include an increased appetite for premium spaces and experiences while travelling. But the strong growth of our Priority Pass network is only one facet of the work Collinson has done in the past year to restart travel.

“As a family company with a more than 30-year history sitting at the intersection of travel and financial services, we know the damage that COVID has done to travel, international commerce and trade, and is why we’re committed to efforts such as rolling out testing, and working with governments and the travel industry to build and roll out new solutions.

“And now, with a network growing to include over 1,500 lounges and premium experiences available, we look forward to welcoming travellers back to our Priority Pass programme as they return to travel.”