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If you follow preowned aircraft markets closely, you'll notice that 2025 delivered something unusual - clear signals instead of cluttered noise. After two years of mixed indicators, the final quarter of 2025 has revealed a clearer story that carries implications for every aircraft owner or buyer looking ahead to 2026.
Flight Activity: The First Real Momentum Shift Since the Pandemic Boom
One of the clearest signals comes from global flight activity. According to WINGX, Week 49 (Dec 1-7) logged more than 76,800 business-jet departures worldwide, up 3% from the same week in 2024. That alone is meaningful, but the real story emerges when viewed over time.
U.S. business jet departures in Week 47 of 2025 were 8% higher than the same week in 2024 and rolling four-week activity during November ran nearly 8% above last year's levels. This represents the strongest sustained uptick in flight activity since the post-pandemic surge.
The most recent data clearly shows that U.S. business-jet flying is growing again, and faster than earlier 2025 trends suggested. Flight activity is almost always a leading indicator of what's coming in the preowned market, especially in light and midsize jets, where utilization strongly correlates with acquisition and replacement plans.
Rising utilization typically precedes strengthening preowned demand, especially in the light and midsize jet markets. When aircraft fly more, fleets refresh more.
Inventory: More Airplanes on the Market, but Fewer that Anyone Actually Wants
Inventory of preowned aircraft for sale tells the second part of the story.
Yes, listings have ticked up. On paper, listings have grown to roughly 7-7.5% of the global business jet fleet, up from the stifling 1-2% pandemic-era lows but still well below the long-term pre-COVID norm of 8-10%. Casual observers might interpret this as a shift toward a buyer's market. But when we dive deeper into the data, we see the bulk of the increase is not in aircraft that buyers actually want.
A disproportionate share of the preowned inventory consists of older airframes, aircraft with "stories" such as corrosion, hail or other damage history, less-than-desirable pedigree, super mid and heavy jets nearing major inspections, aircraft with no engine program coverage nearing overhaul or dated avionics and cosmetics.
Meanwhile, the aircraft in true demand, such as jets with the latest avionics, with low total time and clean pedigree, continue to move quickly and often transact before the listing ever becomes public.
Two subsets of aircraft now exist - aircraft that sell within days or weeks, and aircraft that linger for months.
When we compare year-to-date preowned jet sales in 2025 to the same period in 2024, the shift becomes even more pronounced: Transactions are up by just over 26% year to date compared to 2024, according to JetNet data. This surge in completed preowned aircraft transactions, paired with rising flight activity and limited availability of high-quality aircraft, signals a market that is not only active but decisively strengthening as we head into 2026.
Pricing: A Market That Has Finally Grown Up
After years of volatility, pricing has settled into a stable and rational pattern. Late-model light and midsize jets maintain firm pricing, supported by demand and limited supply. Older "legacy" jets show wider pricing spreads based on maintenance status, engine program coverage and avionics relevance.
Overall, residual values are stabilizing. While the sharp appreciation of 2021-2022 has passed, the softness seen in 2024 has not continued, positioning 2025-2026 as a period defined by balance rather than volatility.
Forces That Will Shape 2026
Several macro factors will influence the market this year:
1. The return of 100% bonus depreciation, without phase-outs, continues to be one of the strongest economic tailwinds, accelerating year-end purchases and pulling many buyers forward into early 2026, particularly those targeting late-model aircraft.
2. Financing availability is robust, with banks showing strong appetite for well-qualified aviation borrowers and offering competitive terms that are unlikely to constrain buyers in the coming year.
3. A new generation of young, aviation-savvy buyers is entering private aviation, expanding demand across light and midsize jets. Many of these newer entrants are intentionally "buying ahead," selecting aircraft that exceed their immediate mission needs to avoid short-interval upgrades.
4. Finally, OEM backlogs remain long, with new-aircraft delivery slots stretching into 2027. According to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association's (GAMA) latest report, new business jet deliveries continued rising in 2025, with year-over-year increases exceeding 10% through the first three quarters. As a result, more buyers are expected to shift into the preowned markets in 2026, increasing competition for high-quality, low-time aircraft.
A Market That Rewards the Prepared
Aircraft owners considering their next move will benefit from a seller-friendly environment provided their aircraft is turn-key, low-time, recent on inspections, well-documented, and equipped with modern avionics.
Owners planning to hold long-term can expect a relatively stable environment and sustained residual-value retention in 2026.
For buyers, the most desirable aircraft frequently transact off-market and require proactive outreach and relationships to secure. Additionally, year-end price jumps driven by buyers seeking bonus-depreciation advantages typically make the first half of the year a better time to find value.
As 2026 approaches, flight activity is rising, pricing is steady, and inventory is generally balanced, though selectively tight in high-demand categories. Whether considering a sale, exploring an upgrade, or reassessing aircraft mission appropriateness, the year ahead offers meaningful opportunities for those who approach the market with patience and a solid strategic plan.Denise Wilson, CAM, is founder and president of The Jet Agent. She is a Gold-level NBAA Certified Aviation Manager with over 25 years of aviation experience, including jet operations, aircraft sales and business leadership, and is an advocate for women and the next generation in aviation.