Collinson has expanded its partnership with China Eastern Airlines, where 24 of the airline’s airport lounges in Mainland China have been added to the Priority Pass network.
Of the 24 newly added airport lounges to the Priority Pass network, 20 are live as of today.
These lounges offer a variety of unique experiences that reflects the local culture and tradition of the city in which the airport lounge is present. For example, visitors can immerse themselves in cultural experiences such as local folk culture exhibits, traditional festival treats and tea art performances. They can also experience a taste of local delights such as the highly-acclaimed “MU Noodles”, as well as traditional Yunnan and Sichuan cuisine. For travellers visiting the China Eastern Airlines No 101 lounge at Shanghai Pudong International Airport, they can also enjoy a view from the outdoor platform facing the tarmac.
These new additions complement the current China Eastern Airlines-operated lounge at Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport, which was made available to the Priority Pass network last year.
The expanded partnership comes just as the travel market in Mainland China continues to recover at pace. China’s domestic travel is expected to return to pre-pandemic levels this year, as evidenced by the recent May Day holiday, where 295 million domestic trips were made – an uptick of 28.2 per cent versus the same period in 2019. Inbound travel volumes are expected to recover to 50 per cent of 2019 levels in 2025, while Chinese outbound travel volumes are expected to return to pre-pandemic levels next year.
A recent Collinson consumer insights report revealed that airport lounge access is the number one most desirable travel benefit at the airport – 65 per cent of travellers in Mainland China feel valued as a customer when they are given access to an airport lounge.
To date, Priority Pass has a network of more than 550 airport lounges and travel experiences in Asia Pacific, and over 1,500 globally across the world’s major travel zones.
In recent years, Fehlinger has been co-managing director of Lufthansa Cityline and managing director of the new airline Lufthansa City Airlines.
With a career spanning over 20 years in the hospitality industry, Larsen brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from across Greater China, Japan, Vietnam and Europe to his new role.
Based in Seoul, South Korea, he will be responsible for over 70 operating properties across 16 brands in South Korea, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
Williams was previously responsible for asset management, sustainability and safety at Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium and Dunedin Town Hall. During his tenure, these venues played host to some of New Zealand’s biggest events, including All Black rugby tests, FIFA World Cup games and major international concerts, as well as a wide range of conventions and meetings.
Williams also has a background in managing major infrastructure and large buildings for significant manufacturing businesses.