Riva and Flexjet Just Unveiled a Nautical Interior for Private Jets

About a year ago, heritage Italian yachtbuilder Riva teamed up with Flexjet, one of the most exclusive providers of private aviation in the world. The partnership has allowed clients buying a yacht from Ferretti Group—the parent company of Riva and six other brands—to have Flexjet’s fleet of more than 300 private jets and helicopters at their fingertips, including coveted and preferential access to long-haul jets for non-stop cross-Atlantic passages. The relationship also benefits Flexjet clients with VIP boating experiences and invitations to private events that money can’t buy.

“We’re selling emotions, and we’re selling a lifestyle,” Ferretti Group CEO Alberto Galassi told Robb Report at an event announcing a new collaboration. Through lifestyle-led partnerships (such as the new on-shore Riva-branded apartments and the recent Riva-branded lounge in Mallorca) and collaborations with fashion designers such as Dolce & Gabbana and musicians like Elton John, the Ferretti Group no longer sees itself as just a yacht builder. Instead, it has positioned itself in the luxury market. It also plays heavily on its golden ticket—access to a group of UHNW clients—and frequently brings its yacht owners together for events, creating camaraderie with the Ferretti Group at its core.

Riva’s iconic Italian style will now be weaved into two aircraft in Flexjet’s fleet, under the name Riva Volare. The styling has already been rolled out on a Gulfstream G650 and Sikorsky S-76, and both Galassi and Flexjet Chairman Ken Ricci have hinted at expanding into other aircraft in the future. The collaboration is limited to the interior, but Galassi said they might start “playing with the outside” as the partnership grows. Robb Report had a first glimpse of the interior at a private unveiling at Milano Prime Linate Airport.

“It’s been a year and a half in the making,” says Galassi. “And we [wanted to make sure] we didn’t just steal the Riva logo, and create something much stronger.”

The interior design revolves around the signature glossed-mahogany and Hollywood veneer paneling on the bulkheads and flat surfaces, with hand-stitched leather piped in Riva’s distinctive aquamarine and deep blue hues. The popular metallic trims on the brand’s yacht line are also used on the G650, with a silk carpet inspired by the motion of the sea. The Sikorsky S-76 with Riva Volare interiors will form part of a new Flexjet helicopter operation serving Italy, the French Riviera and Florida.

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The interior fit-out took place in the U.S., overseen by Riva’s key partners on the ground. The Riva-branded aircraft and helicopters are expected to be in “hot demand,” said Ricci. Certain materials were challenging to integrate due to FAA regulations. “We [in private aviation] tend not to like wood,” said Ricci, gesturing at the excess of wood-style veneer on the aircraft. To ensure the materials comply, the wood has been heated and steamed at high temperatures to make it thin, pliable, and ultimately compliant with all the necessary FAA/EASA regulations.

For both Ricci and Galassi, the journey that led to this unveiling is a personal one. Ricci is a Sicilian-born Riva owner with a boat based in Lake Como. “Rivas come with a vision,” says Ricci. “We have a lot to learn from them. And now, we have a story to tell.” Galassi is a pilot who worked in aerospace for many years. “I love aviation more than anything,” he says, and then adds as an afterthought: “Except contemporary art.”

With the new Riva and Flexjet interior crossover, it seems that the two passions of these leaders may have met neatly in the middle.