About a year ago, Italian yachtmaker Riva teamed up with Flexjet, a premier private aviation provider, to offer yacht buyers under the Ferretti Group umbrella access to Flexjet’s expansive fleet of over 300 jets and helicopters. The deal granted those purchasing yachts not only efficient air travel—including long-haul flights across the Atlantic—but also a suite of exclusive boating and lifestyle experiences. In return, Flexjet clients gained access to invitation-only events and unforgettable time at sea.
Ferretti Group CEO Alberto Galassi described the collaboration as more than transactional. “We’re selling emotions, and we’re selling a lifestyle,” he told *Robb Report*. Galassi has pushed Ferretti Group into broader luxury territory, with initiatives like Riva-branded residences and a Riva lounge in Mallorca, plus fashion and entertainment tie-ins with names like Dolce & Gabbana and Elton John. The group no longer sees itself as just a yacht manufacturer but a luxury lifestyle brand centered on a close-knit circle of ultra-high-net-worth clients.
Now, that signature Riva flair is taking flight. Under the Riva Volare name, two Flexjet aircraft—the Gulfstream G650 and Sikorsky S-76—have been fitted with interiors inspired by Riva’s classic styling. The unveiling took place privately at Milano Prime Linate Airport, with both Galassi and Flexjet Chairman Ken Ricci hinting at more aircraft joining the program. For now, the transformation focuses on interiors, though Galassi mentioned that exterior design might follow.
“It’s been a year and a half in the making,” Galassi said of the interiors. “And we didn’t want to just slap on the Riva logo. We wanted to build something much stronger.”
The interiors feature the brand’s trademark glossed mahogany, layered with Hollywood-style veneer across bulkheads and flat surfaces. Leather piping in Riva’s unmistakable aquamarine and navy tones winds through the cabin, paired with metallic accents from their yacht line and a silk carpet designed to reflect ocean movement. The Sikorsky S-76 version is expected to service destinations like Italy, the French Riviera, and Florida as part of Flexjet’s new helicopter operations.
Custom fabrication took place in the U.S., coordinated closely with Riva’s ground partners. Ricci noted the challenge of integrating natural materials within FAA guidelines. “We [in private aviation] tend not to like wood,” he said, noting how the materials had to be steamed and pressed to meet compliance standards without sacrificing Riva’s aesthetic vision.
For both leaders, the collaboration is deeply personal. Ricci, a Sicilian-born Riva owner with a boat on Lake Como, remarked, “Rivas come with a vision. We have a lot to learn from them. And now, we have a story to tell.” Galassi, a licensed pilot with an aerospace background, added, “I love aviation more than anything,” pausing briefly before adding, “Except contemporary art.”
With the Riva and Flexjet fusion, two passions—sea and sky—appear to have finally merged into one seamless, elevated experience.
