We are the largest aviation services provider in North America – and soon, the world.”
Founded in 2018 as a joint venture (JV) between Delta Air Lines and the Argenbright Group, Unifi has evidently experienced rapid growth since its inception.
Indeed, since the COVID-19 pandemic, the company has more than doubled its employee count to more than 40,000 and tripled its
revenue to become a multi-billiondollar organization, with 220+ airport stations across the US, Canada, UK, and Ireland.
“Our growth has been driven by both organic expansion and strategic acquisitions,” continues Chief Commercial Officer, Ying McPherson, citing the purchases of Up & Away and Prospect Airport Services.
“As we continue to grow, we remain focused on expanding
geographically and strengthening the breadth of our services.”
Unifi provides a wide range of essential services from the moment passengers arrive at the airport –whether checking in, picking up bags, or loading them onto the plane – to ensure everything runs smoothly.
It also assists passengers at the gate, provides wheelchair services, and manages employee transportation by offering buses to get staff where they need to go.
“Additionally, we handle aircraft cleaning and pushback operations to ensure safety and cleanliness,” McPherson adds.
FIVE-YEAR STRATEGY
Unifi has a five-year strategy comprising two main pillars –continued strength in North America and targeted international expansion.
On the North American front, its approach remains consistent, with the company committed to investing in the right people and empowering them through advanced technologies.
“Because we’ve been early adopters of innovations, we’re several years ahead of many competitors, putting us in a strong position to sustain our leadership,” acclaims McPherson.
“Our strong culture, built on passion, integrity, and empathy, will be key to elevating our team and driving excellence in performance.
That’s how we plan to continue driving success across North America.”
Internationally, Unifi has spent the last couple of years laying the groundwork and is now reaching a tipping point, with its customers actively looking for partners who can bring something new to the table.
In many global markets, the ground handling space has been dominated by a small number of established providers, creating an opportunity for Unifi to introduce new approaches and drive meaningful innovation in the space.
“We have the scale, experience, and capabilities to disrupt those markets and offer a fresh alternative,” McPherson tells us.
“Our next focus is on building stronger brand recognition, particularly in Europe, where we believe we can truly change the game.”
LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY
As Unifi grows, leveraging technology to drive innovation will continue to be a top priority.
Indeed, the company’s focus is on giving employees the tools and technology they need to work smarter and more efficiently.
A great example is its predictive and prescriptive analytics model, which was launched in January 2023 in partnership with Artis Consulting, a trusted Microsoft partner.
The system provides risk values at organizational, regional, contract, and customer levels based on 30 variables and more than 500 data points, including staffing numbers, tenure of leadership and employees, training, equipment quality and age, weather, and more.
Data modeling allows Unifi to target areas needing additional focus and support to ensure it delivers the highest quality of safe, reliable service.
Comprehensive Solutions for Modern Airports
AvTech’s solutions have demonstrated measurable improvements across global airports
Passenger Assistance – AvTech’s cloud-based solution efficiently manages services for passengers with reduced mobility (PRM) and unaccompanied minors. By integrating real-time assistance requests and multi-channel notifications, the system ensures timely and compliant support, improving the overall passenger experience.
Cabin Services – The CabinView application optimizes workflows, tracks team performance, and enhances accountability. Airports utilizing this system have reported a 12% increase in productivity within the first six months of implementation.
Janitorial Services – AvTech’s janitorial management solution connects cleaning teams in real time and optimizes resource allocation. With built-in analytics, airport managers can track performance trends, ensuring facilities remain clean and operational at all times.
Transit Management – The AvTech Transit application automates transport scheduling for passengers moving to and from remote stands. With real-time vehicle tracking and automated work orders, this system enhances efficiency while minimizing delays.
Conclusion
AvTech’s aviation software solutions are reshaping airport operations by increasing efficiency, improving passenger satisfaction, and reducing operational bottlenecks. Through advanced applications tailored to address specific challenges, AvTech empowers airport teams to work smarter and more effectively. As the aviation industry continues to evolve, AvTech remains at the forefront of innovation, providing airports with the tools they need to thrive in an increasingly complex operational landscape.
UNIFI LINES OF SERVICE
• Check-in assistance
• Baggage handling
• Passenger assistance
• Gate assistance
• Aircraft cleaning and detailing
• Unarmed security
• Janitorial
• Maintenance
• Employee and passenger transport within airport premises
• Ground handling operations
“Technology like this empowers our frontline and leadership teams to stay proactive, aligned, and agile so we can continue to deliver the high standards our customers expect,” prides McPherson.
Elsewhere, Unifi continues to make active investments in technology to increase employee retention and engagement.
“Given that the new generation we’re hiring are very tech savvy, we enable them to do tasks efficiently so that they can, more importantly, focus on what the customer wants – taking care of passengers,” she emphasizes.
Its OnTheJob app, meanwhile, was created specifically for aviation frontline employees and addresses
the company’s unique operational challenges.
A one-stop shop for staff to access their work schedules, paid time off (PTO) hours, and pay statements, OnTheJob addresses the need for more flexibility.
“The app allows employees to bid on shifts based on seniority and trade them with others,” McPherson reveals.
ELEVATE FROM THE HEART
Shaping the way Unifi engages with employees, as well as clients and their passengers, is its ‘Elevate from the Heart’ mindset.
This stems from a deep belief that exceptional service begins with intent, care, and respect.
To help embed this philosophy, Unifi has partnered with Horst Schulze, co-Founder of The Ritz-Carlton and a pioneer in world-class hospitality.
With his guidance, the company has refined its service standards and developed a field-based, in-person training program focused on soft skills that truly elevate the customer experience, such as active listening and warm smiles.
“We believe that small, intentional
acts of kindness have a transformative ripple effect,” McPherson elaborates.
“Ultimately, ‘Elevate from the Heart’ is about creating a workplace where people feel seen, supported, and inspired to do their best – because when we take care of our people, they take care of everything else.”
Falling under the ‘Elevate from the Heart’ umbrella is Unifi After Dark, a powerful initiative that invests in frontline employees’ well-being, morale, and sense of belonging.
The Unifi After Dark team works behind the scenes, showing up overnight to transform breakrooms in stations across the country.
Led by Chief Operating Officer, Greg Kennedy, and a hands-on group of senior leaders and team members, the effort includes everything from painting walls to replacing furniture and appliances, creating spaces that reflect the value Unifi places on its people.
“These surprise makeovers are designed to elevate our employees, provide a welcoming space for rest, and reinforce the message that their hard work doesn’t go unnoticed,” shares McPherson.
GST SMARTrack™ >>
GST SMARTrack offers advanced technology for Cabin, Water, and LAV services. SMARTrack supports dedicated web-, mobile-, and self-dispatch capabilities for airports of various sizes. With GPS tracking, supervisors know where their agents are, in and around the airport at all times.
<< GST PAXTrack™
GST PAXTrack offers comprehensive features for wheelchair services, which include support for aisle-chair assists, preboarding assists, deal transfers, curbside check-ins, real-time agent locations, agent relocation, and more.
GST SMARTClean™
GST SMARTClean is designed specifically for janitorial services and facility management . GPS validation helps confirm tasks assigned to each gate, office, walkway, etc. and maximizes efficiency in cleaning within airports. Real-time messaging among agents and supervisors keeps the airport clean at all times.
<< GST Tracker®
GST Tracker is a US patented solution of nationwide asset tracking for real-time tracking of vehicles, mobile phones, tablets, movable equipment , chassis, personal tracking devices, and more In addition to offering airport ground services, this system is widely utilized by law-enforcement agencies and first responders.
make life a little easier for our team members.”
Strong supplier relationships therefore don’t just support Unifi’s operations – they help maintain a motivated, supported workforce, which in turn drives service quality and client satisfaction.
“It’s a full-circle approach that starts with trusted partnerships,” she acknowledges.
PURPOSE AND PRIDE
Corporate social responsibility (CSR), meanwhile, is deeply rooted in Unifi’s core values.
The company believes in making a tangible impact not just in the aviation industry but in the communities where it lives and works – and beyond.
One of Unifi’s most powerful CSR initiatives is its annual meal packaging partnership with Rise Against Hunger, a global humanitarian organization focused on ending hunger and promoting sustainable community development.
“In 2023, we hosted our largest ever multi-site, multinational meal packaging event, engaging over 600 Unifi team members across six
locations in the US and India,” excites McPherson.
“Together, we packaged more than 90,000 nutritious, shelf-stable meals –a significant increase from the 15,000 we packaged just two years prior.”
These meals are distributed globally to support communities facing food insecurity, including children and families in countries like South Africa and India.
In fact, meals packaged at its Atlanta Operations Center last year provided food for 150 students in Johannesburg for an entire school year, helping to fuel not just their nutrition but also their education and development.
“What makes this initiative even more meaningful is the hands-on involvement of our employees, from frontline team members to executive leadership. It’s an energetic, teamdriven event that our employees look forward to each year,” McPherson delights.
“Many of our team members have deep personal connections to the communities being served, adding an extra layer of purpose and pride to the work we do.”
YEAR OF RESILIENCE
For 2025, Unifi’s strategic priorities are focused on operational safety, financial discipline, customer and employee experiences, and global expansion.
The former remains a top priority as customers trust Unifi with missioncritical services – a responsibility it takes seriously.
“We are committed to running safe, secure, and reliable operations across every location we serve,” McPherson declares.
“Our goal is always zero injuries and zero aircraft damage. While this may be ambitious, it’s the standard we hold ourselves to and relentlessly pursue.”
This commitment drives Unifi’s ongoing investments in training, accountability, and continuous process improvement, ensuring safety is deeply embedded in every aspect of its operations.
From a business perspective, financial discipline is key to ensuring longterm sustainability. Unifi is focused on operational efficiency and cost control so it can continue to deliver value to partners while reinvesting in innovation and frontline excellence.
“We’re also doubling down on the customer experience, ensuring our standards consistently reflect the quality and care our customers expect,” says McPherson.
“In parallel, we believe a great employee experience leads to better service outcomes. That’s why we’ve rolled out tools and programs to improve engagement, responsiveness, and performance in the field.”
Looking forward, global expansion is one of the company’s most exciting goals in light of the growing demand from international markets for innovative, high-performance partners.
Unifi is uniquely positioned to meet this need with its proven operating model, advanced technology investments, and customer-first culture.
