Mastercard Exclusive News August 2026 / Mastercard Expands Airport Fast Track Access Across Europe / Publisher Mastercard Press Releases

As part of The Mastercard Collection, Mastercard Fast Track is now available in Barcelona, Madrid, and Athens and Istanbul airports, alongside over 200 lanes globally, offering eligible cardholders a smoother start to their journeys

Mastercard has expanded its branded airport security Fast Track lanes across Europe, adding Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport and Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport to existing Athens and Istanbul locations as part of The Mastercard Collection, a suite of elevated, globally connected benefits spanning dining, entertainment, and travel.

The new European locations build on Mastercard’s growing global Fast Track footprint, reinforcing the company’s commitment to delivering premium, connected travel experiences in the moments that matter most. 79% of Europeans say they plan to prioritise travel and tourism experiences this summer. With summer travel demand continuing to grow, the expansion offers cardholders a tangible benefit designed to deliver greater value and ease across increasingly busy airports.

“Travel should feel as rewarding as the destination itself,” said Brice van de Walle, Executive Vice President, Core Payments Europe, Mastercard. “By expanding Fast Track access in key European hubs, we’re giving our cardholders valuable time back while continuing to grow The Mastercard Collection and the premium experiences it offers across travel, dining and entertainment.”

Fast Track enables a quicker, more seamless passage through airport security, helping travellers start their journeys with greater ease and comfort. World Legend™ Mastercard cardholders and up to three guests enjoy unlimited access to the Mastercard lanes, while access for Mastercard World Elite and World cardholders is available based on eligibility.

Europe remains a hub for cultural and experience-led tourism, with six of the world’s top 10 destinations located in the region. Barcelona and Madrid are among the destinations seeing strong inbound travel growth, making them important gateways for travellers seeking seamless and rewarding journeys.

A growing ecosystem of premium experiences

The Mastercard Collection offers eligible cardholders and their loved ones access to a curated range of premium travel benefits worldwide, elevating the journey from departure to return. These include access to over 1,500 airport lounges globally, 200+ security fast track lanes across airports, and Taste by Priceless airport dining experiences in destinations such as São Paulo and Hong Kong.

Beyond travel, it connects cardholders to memorable everyday and once‑in‑a‑lifetime experiences across:

Dining: Priority reservations at highly acclaimed, award‑winning restaurants, with curated experiences designed to transform meals into moments to remember.

Entertainment: Special access to sought‑after tickets and pre-sales for live music, sports and cultural events.

The additions of these airport locations further strengthen Europe’s role within this global ecosystem, with more locations planned across the region and globally.

Fast Track and airport lounge access is available through Mastercard’s designated travel platforms, with eligibility and guest access varying by card tier and Issuer.

For more information about The Mastercard Collection and its benefits, visit: priceless.com/themastercardcollection.

To access Mastercard-branded Fast Track lanes worldwide, download the Mastercard Travel Pass mobile application or visit Mastercard Travel Pass.

Methodology  

Mastercard conducted a survey with its research partner 3Gem, to understand the appetite for skills-based activities when travelling. The fieldwork took place in February 2026.

The survey sampled 27,000 respondents across 28 countries, collecting data from Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, UK, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland and Ukraine.

¹ See survey methodology for all tourism data in the release

² Data from the The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Economic Impact Research 2025 https://wttc.org/news/travel-and-tourism-to-create-4-5mn-new-jobs-across-the-eu-by-2035

Note to editors 

Mastercard’s experience platform, Priceless.com, is offering a whole host of unforgettable skills-based experiences. In Sweden you can learn how to make traditional candy-canes or paint an authentic Dala horse. In Croatia, you can learn create art at a seaside studio. In France you can learn to make the best items Paris has to offer from perfume to leather handbags. 

In Madrid create your own embossed art piece or learn how to 3D print in Prague’s top university. The options to learn a new skill are endless.

Mastercard is a longstanding partner to dozens of Europe’s most renowned entertainment and sports institutions and events, including the BRIT Awards, McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team, the UEFA Champions League, Roland Garros, Festival de Cannes, Berlinale Film Festival, The Open Championship and hundreds of Live Nation concerts across multiple European markets.

About Priceless.com 

Priceless.com is available exclusively to Mastercard cardholders and provides access to unforgettable experiences and valuable everyday discounts in the cities where you live and travel.

About the Mastercard Economics Institute 

The Mastercard Economics Institute provides insights into global and local economic trends using advanced analytics and Mastercard’s proprietary data assets.

Established in 2020, MEI supports businesses, governments, and policymakers with economic monitoring services and timely analysis on economic themes including consumer spending, retail and travel trends, and other local and global barometers of economic performance.

MEI offers valuable perspectives to inform decision-making and promote sustainable growth worldwide through our thought leadership series, and through Mastercard’s specialized product offerings.