Priority Pass to accelerate its tech investment as Collinson commits £500m to growth

Funds will be use for its digital roadmap, plus new data and AI capabilities

Priority Pass is set to accelerate investment in data, AI and digital technology as parent company Collinson puts £500 million behind a five-year growth programme.

The airport experience programme will be a major beneficiary of the investment, which has been accelerated by a new £350 million financing facility secured by the Collinson Group.

The funding will support the expansion of Priority Pass's global lounge network while also accelerating its digital roadmap, including the development of new data and AI capabilities.

Priority Pass has already begun rolling out a new enterprise technology platform based on modern data and AI architecture, alongside the global rollout of its new Priority Pass+ app.

The company said the technology investment is intended to create a more connected ecosystem for clients, partners and members, with greater personalisation a key longer-term objective.

Future functionality within the app will use AI, previous traveller behaviour and real-time geolocation, where enabled, to recommend relevant lounges and airport experiences based on an individual's journey.

The platform is also expected to enable partners to offer and sell additional travel benefits through the app.

Christopher Evans, CEO of Collinson International, which owns Priority Pass, said the investment was necessary as traveller expectations for seamless and personalised experiences continue to rise.

"That makes investment in the customer experience more important than ever before," he said.

Evans added that changes in what technology can enable meant Collinson needed to increase its investment to realise the potential of new technology across Priority Pass.

The investment will also fund a significant expansion of Collinson's proprietary airport lounge network through sister company Airport Dimensions.

Priority Pass recently surpassed 1,900 airport lounges and travel experiences globally, with its network growing 6.7% over the past 12 months.

The group said additional capacity would help support Priority Pass members as global passenger volumes continue to grow.

Priority Pass is also expanding beyond lounge access, with airport fast track now available at 28 airports.

The service is expected to grow to more than 170 bookable fast-track lanes across more than 150 terminals and more than 130 airports over the next 12 months.

Other services available through the Priority Pass ecosystem include airport parking and luggage storage, while the company has also launched Priority Pass Private, a premium airport experience aimed at luxury travellers.

The programme currently sees more than six million guest visits a month, according to Collinson.

The group has also strengthened its relationship with lounge operator CAVU, with dedicated areas for Priority Pass and LoungeKey members now live across five UK Escape Lounges.

The investment reflects the broader evolution of Priority Pass from a traditional airport lounge access product into a wider travel services platform.

For Collinson, the £500 million programme will extend beyond Priority Pass and airport experiences, funding expansion of its global lounge network, insurance business, technology and products, new market entry and recruitment.

The programme follows the group's announcement of a £350 million revolving credit facility, which will support the five-year investment strategy.

Evans said the combination of technology investment and expanding physical capacity would allow Collinson to work with financial institutions, travel brands and airports to develop new customer experiences.

"As we surpass 1,900 lounges and travel experiences globally, the Group's investment in lounge capacity through Airport Dimensions means our members will benefit from a network that keeps expanding for the long term," he said.