Swissport International, the world’s leading provider of ground and cargo handling services to the aviation industry, and Collinson Group, owners of Priority Pass, have signed a joint venture agreement to launch the first shared use lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 5. ‘Aspire, the Lounge and Spa at LHR T5’ opens to the public this summer and will be available to all passengers travelling through LHR Terminal 5. ‘Aspire the Lounge and Spa at LHR T5’ will be jointly owned and operated by Swissport and Airport Lounge Development (ALD), Collinson Group’s lounge operating arm to bring a world class facility to Heathrow Terminal 5.
LONDON, 2015-4-23 — /Travel PR News/ — Since launching in 2012, the Aspire brand of airport lounges has grown in popularity and now covers many global destinations. The new lounge represents the first foray in a new joint venture partnership between two of the most experienced global companies operating airport lounges today. Collinson Group has deep insight into the needs of frequent travellers for over 23 years. This experience is complemented by the operational expertise of Swissport, the leading operator of independent lounges in Europe and largest lounge operator in the UK.
Located near Gate 18, the lounge will be the first in London Heathrow´s Terminal 5 open to travellers regardless of travel class, and is designed to meet independent customer demand for a place to relax and refresh in one of the world’s leading airport terminals. ‘Aspire, the Lounge and Spa at LHR T5’, has a modern and innovative design focused around meeting the unique needs of Terminal 5 customers. With a high volume of passengers in the terminal connecting onto another flight, a range of dedicated areas and services will ensure that passengers have a quiet place to rest and relax, whilst also giving them access to a blend of refreshing spa facilities.
Errol McGlothan, General Manager EMEA at Collinson Group said: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to open an independent lounge at Terminal 5 which our Priority Pass customers can enjoy. In partnership with Swissport we are confident that ‘Aspire, the Lounge and Spa at LHR T5’ will deliver an exciting range of services that add to the experience of one of the world’s leading hubs.”
Shaun Weston, Travel Services Director Swissport International commented: “The opening of ‘Aspire, the Lounge and Spa at LHR T5’ is a significant step for Swissport and our Aspire brand of lounges, giving us a presence in one of the world’s leading airport terminals, whilst allowing us to partner with global lifestyle benefits experts, the Collinson Group.”
Swissport International Ltd. provides ground services for around 229 million passengers and handles 4.1 million tonnes of cargo a year on behalf of some 700 client-companies in the aviation sector. With a workforce of around 58,000 personnel, Swissport is active at more than 265 stations in 45 countries across five continents, and generates consolidated operating revenue of CHF 2.9 billion.www.swissport.com
About Priority Pass
Priority Pass (www.prioritypass.com) is part of the Collinson Group, specialising in the international travel clubs and services sector. Priority Pass was launched in 1992 with the objective of providing frequent travellers with airport lounge access, irrespective of their class of travel, airline flown or existing membership in an airline loyalty program.
In just 20 years Priority Pass has become the world’s largest independent airport lounge access program. Now in 2015, Priority Pass works with over 700 lounges in 400 cities in over 120 countries in every continent of the world and our network of lounges continues to grow. Millions of travellers throughout the world carry a Priority Pass card whenever they travel, and every year many more enjoy the benefits that Priority Pass membership brings. With offices located in Dallas, Hong Kong and London, Priority Pass employs over 1,000 people to serve our membership and each office provides a professional, multi-lingual service to members.
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3D render of the LHR lounge