Story ID: 
Trailblazing Bizjet Dealer Marisa Maretti Flies West
By: Jessica Reed
Caption: Maretti facilitated the sale of nearly 200 business jets throughout her career
Word Count: 186
Marisa Maretti, known during her extensive career as “the first lady of business aviation,” passed away May 18 at age 79. Maretti was a pioneering force in the aviation industry and was the first European woman to establish a business jet dealership. She was born in Cremona, Italy, in 1945 and spent the last 32 years of her life in Monaco. Over her four-decade career, she facilitated the sale of nearly 200 business jets.
Maretti’s aviation career began when she joined Alico, a dealer and authorized service station for Cessna pistons. Her passion and acumen for the industry led her to found her own company, Business Aviation Marketing, in the 1970s, with an office based in Milan, Italy. Cessna Citations became a staple of her business, with more than 150 new and used Citations sold under her guidance.
Eventually, Maretti was appointed as the Cessna Citation-authorized sales representative for Italy, Monaco, and the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland. This continued for more than 35 years, during which time she facilitated the sale of a wide variety of aircraft and became a respected figure in the aviation community.