The deal was signed by Up & Away founder and CEO Stefan Murphy and Unifi CEO Gautam Thakkar at the UK company’s London Oxford Airport UK HQ.
The agreement formalises as Up & Away, a leading supplier of aircraft cleaning and detailing services to commercial airline clients, prepares to open its 13th base at London’s Gatwick Airport on 1 August.
This follows having recently ramped up its personnel to 500-plus employees. Over 400 of them are dedicated to Up & Away Aviation Services’ airline activity.
Unifi, headquartered in Atlanta, GA is present at over 200+ US airports, offering a range of ground services from ticketing and ground handling to cabin cleaning and cargo. It is part of the Argenbright Group.
Up & away is an ideal fit for Unifi as it looks to grow its UK business to more than £100 million in the region over the next three years.
While the Up & Away brand will remain, Stefan Murphy will become Unifi's Managing Director in the UK. Ernie Patterson, Chairman of International Business for Argenbright Group, will provide additional oversight of Unifi's UK aviation business, working with Up & Away's team to broaden operations into more airports, including London Heathrow.
Addressing Up & Away’s management in Oxford, Patterson highlighted: “Up & Away brings exactly what Unifi was looking for - a personalised, intimate service offering to customers. It is excited to take that, harness it, help grow and expand the business, using the same culture and same, dedicated team.”
