Aircraft cleaning firm, Up & Away Aviation has opened a base at London’s Gatwick Airport.  The base is the company’s 13th overall, and  the first under its newly ratified Unifi LLC ownership.

Supporting one of Europe’s largest charter airlines and its B737 and B787 aircraft, Up & Away recruited 68, mostly local employees for the start of its commercial operation covering several roles from station manager and duty managers to allocators, bowser driver and cleaning agents. They will be led by newly appointed Base Manager Marcus Barker, cleaning departing aircraft from Gatwick’s North and South Terminal.

Atlanta-based Unifi acquired Up & Away last month,  as it looks to grow its UK business to more than £100 million in the region over the next three years.  The business is aiming to replicate its success in the US, where it is present at more than 200 airports.

“I’d like to thank Marcus, who joins us from Menzies Aviation, alongside Andy Cruise and Craig Cooper from C Squared Aviation Solutions, a newly-formed consultancy, who were drafted in to build our base from scratch whilst we focused on delivering our normal summer operations,” said Stefan Murphy, Managing Director of Up & Away Aviation and Unifi UK. “They have done a great job helping us identify the best workforce and expedited new airside passes quickly and efficiently. We are very proud to have created nearly 70 new jobs at the UK’s second largest airport,” he added.