Gate Gourmet acquiring ground handling firm

A range of ground handling services from cleaning to de-icing of aircraft will be part of Gate Gourmet’s portfolio of products with the announcement September 27 that the caterer will acquire a U.K. based company currently under the name Fernley and International Aviation Services.

The companies are involved in aircraft cabin cleaning, washing and de-icing. They also conduct baggage screening, document verification, operate airport lounges, and handle disabled and minor passengers. Terms of the deal were not announced.

“For our customers, this will mean more choices of services at more locations,” says Guy Dubois, group executive vice president and chief administrative officer at Gate Gourmet.

The firms operate at Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton airports in London and eight other airports in the U.K. and Ireland. On the continent, Fernley/IAS operates in Amsterdam, Brussels and regional airports in France and the Netherlands.

Primary owner of Fernley and International Aviation Services has been Gary Morby. He will remain head of the operation, which will be renamed Gate Aviation Services.