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Priority Pass Data Shows Growing Travel Momentum as Lounge Usage and Flight Volumes Increase

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By: Wise Marketer Staff |

Posted on September 10, 2021

  • Airport lounge data shows a 28% month-on-month increase between June and July 2021
  • Passengers more likely to use airport lounges and other socially distanced spaces compared to pre-pandemic
  • More than 75 % of Priority Pass lounges globally are open for business; lounges and airport experiences within the Priority Pass network now cover 91% of the top 100 busiest airports globally

PLANO, TX — September 8, 2021: New insights from Collinson’s Priority Pass today reveal the extent of the increase in global airport lounge visits, which are in line with the growing momentum of flight numbers. Across the Priority Pass network, total lounge visits are up by 46% for the first half of 2021 compared to the second half of 2020. The lounges are well positioned along the most traveled international flight routes based on data from OAG, with 91% of the top 100 busiest airports and 79% of the 100 busiest terminals globally featuring a Priority Pass lounge and airport experience.

Currently, over 75% of lounges across the globe are open for business, and visit data showed a 28% month-on-month increase between June and July 2021. Collinson has been working closely with its lounge partners to ensure that travelers are supported and can experience Priority Pass lounges wherever possible.

Lounge Data Reveals Optimistic Outlook, Starting With Domestic Travel

According to Priority Pass, average visits per lounge are also up 34% for H1 of 2021, compared to H2 2020 – which is in line with previous data showing that 48% of Priority Pass Members are more likely to use airport lounges compared to before the pandemic. Furthermore, 87% of travelers in a broader survey reported that they wanted access to socially distanced spaces in order to ‘de-stress’ and ‘relax away from the crowds’. Building on these studies, Priority Pass’s demand-focused network expansion is supported by ongoing research and analysis, based on data points including lounge visits and flight data.

“While we look forward to a broader recovery including international flights once the pandemic is brought under further control, we are meanwhile seeing better utilization of our domestic lounges in particular – which means we are serving our members well in these challenging times,” said Andy Besant, Director of Travel Experiences at Collinson, the operator of Priority Pass.

OAG data shows that the U.S. currently leads the way in travel recovery, with nearly 3.8 million flights taken in the past year – of which 95% are domestic – compared to 8.9 million in 2019. Meanwhile, Russia and China are already at 70% and 87% of flight volumes compared to 2019 - places where Priority Pass has a comprehensive lounge presence, covering 96% and 86% of all flights respectively*.

Globally, domestic flights are forecasted to be at 90% passenger capacity by April 2022, according to data from OAG and analysis from Priority Pass.

International Flight Recovery Outlook Is Hopeful, but Not Evenly Distributed

While recovery is taking off globally, some regions are doing better than others. Priority Pass data indicates that the U.S. will likely be the first region to see flights recover to pre-pandemic volumes, while APAC is expected to be the slowest region to recover, according to data from OAG and analysis from Priority Pass. Additionally, based on Priority Pass data, the company projects that markets in Asia Pacific (APAC) are only forecasted to be at 40% flight volumes as compared to pre-pandemic levels by April 2022. Priority Pass further projects that the first region to hit over 60% recovery for lounge visits will be Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa (CEMEA), followed by Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean, with Canada coming in last. Currently, the Priority Pass international lounge network covers terminals for 83% of international flights from North America, 86% for CEMEA, 84% for all of Europe, 97% for the U.K. and 87% for APAC – making Priority Pass the leading independent global airport lounge network.

Andy Besant further added: “It’s clear that the travel industry is starting to recover strongly, and that the green shoots of regrowth are showing across both international and domestic flights. Priority Pass has invested significantly in tracking and supporting this recovery to ensure that we will be there for our members as they return to the skies. Tracking our lounge coverage against flight patterns is key to our strategy; and we will continue to ensure the expansion of our offering and services to our members in the most relevant locations.”

Priority Pass continues to monitor and adjust its operations to accommodate the ongoing recovery of international travel; this news follows Priority Pass announcing the global expansion of its lounge network. Since the start of 2021, over 110 lounges and airport experiences have been added to the network, substantially increasing Priority Pass coverage, as well as enhancing the breadth and depth of experiences available, from spas to dining locations.

About Priority Pass
Priority Pass is the original and market-leading airport experiences program operated by Collinson. It provides discerning frequent travelers access to over 1,300 lounges and airport experiences in over 650 airports across 148 countries, including a growing number of airport dining and spa offerings worldwide that can be accessed in the same way as lounges. Using the Priority Pass app for iOS and Android, members can quickly and easily discover locations welcoming Priority Pass, instantly check their visit entitlement and use their Digital Membership Card to access airport lounges and experiences.

About Collinson
Collinson is a global leader in the provision of traveler experiences including airport lounge access and medical and security assistance and travel medical services. Collinson’s traveler experiences include the world’s leading airport lounge and experiences program, Priority Pass, as well as travel insurance, identity assistance, flight delay, international health, and travel risk management solutions.

Collinson has over 2,000 employees operating out of 20 locations globally, all working to deliver a broad range of traveler experiences that ensure the safety, welfare, and comfort of 55 million people as they travel for business and leisure around the world. Its travel medical and security assistance business unit has more than 55 years’ experience in the delivery of international medical assistance and emergency care, including the handling of pandemics such as Ebola, Zika and the coronavirus. Last year alone, Collinson responded to over 95,000 emergency calls, managed over 40,000 medical cases, and conducted over 3,000 aero-medical evacuations across the 170 countries it serves. We work with clients including American Express, Cathay Pacific, CBA, Mastercard, Radisson Hotel Group, UnionPay and Visa.

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