In brief: Unifi Aviation has launched a dedicated aircraft detailing and cleaning operation at Jersey Airport, serving business aviation operators through the FBO run by Gama Aviation. The move brings professional interior and exterior aircraft care to the Channel Islands for the first time under the Unifi brand, with the company citing the island’s challenging salt-air environment as a key driver.
A Long-Awaited Arrival
Unifi Aviation, a specialist in aircraft detailing services, has expanded into the Channel Islands with the launch of Unifi Aviation Jersey, offering cleaning and detailing services to business aviation operators at Jersey Airport. The operation is based within the Fixed Base Operation (FBO) facility managed by Gama Aviation, and Business Airport International reports that the team works Monday to Friday, with extended hours available on request.
The services cover a broad range of aircraft, from Cirrus-sized turboprops through to ultra-long-range business jets from Gulfstream, Bombardier and Dassault, as well as regional airlines operating sports and ad hoc charters through the FBO.
Stefan Murphy, CEO of Unifi Aviation UK, Ireland and Jersey, said: “Moving into the Channel Islands has been on our wish list for many years. Aircraft are subject to high salt conditions in and out of the Channel Islands, requiring regular exterior washing.” It is a straightforward point, but an important one. Anyone who has left a car near the Jersey coastline for a fortnight will understand exactly what Murphy means.
A Partnership With Deep Roots
The launch is not a cold start. Unifi Aviation and Gama Aviation have a working relationship stretching back to 2015, making the Jersey expansion a natural next step rather than a leap into the unknown. Unifi’s detailing division currently operates at 21 airports and employs approximately 1,900 people, so the company brings considerable experience to what is, in global terms, a compact but affluent market.
Corin Barker, FBO manager for Jersey at Gama Aviation, welcomed the addition, saying: “For owners, operators and crews, being able to arrange aircraft care during their visit is a practical and valuable addition, helping them maintain the presentation of their aircraft and prepare for the next flight.” In other words, the kind of service that the owners of ultra-long-range business jets have come to expect, and which Jersey Airport can now provide without anyone needing to arrange a specialist visit from the mainland.
Bigger Things on the Horizon
The timing of Unifi’s arrival is notable. Business Airport International reports that Gama Aviation has plans for a multi-million-pound investment in a new FBO facility at Jersey Airport, with groundbreaking scheduled for 2027. Unifi’s establishment within the existing FBO positions it well to be part of whatever that new facility looks like when it opens.
For Jersey Airport, the development is another signal that the island’s business aviation sector continues to attract serious, professional operators. Business aviation is not merely a convenience for the wealthy; it is a meaningful part of Jersey’s connectivity and its appeal as a location for high-net-worth individuals and financial services businesses that need flexible, efficient travel options.
Source: businessairportinternational.com
