Canada runs on turboprops. Mining and the Arctic will keep it that way

Only three countries in the world have more turboprops than jets, with Canada being one. This fact explains more about the Canadian aircraft market than any price chart. Aviation is an important infrastructure in the country due to its massive land mass and smaller communities. Levaero Aviation's 2026 State of the Canadian Aircraft Market Report lays out the numbers that prove it. Turboprops make up 55.5% of the Canadian working business fleet. In comparison, the U.S. business fleet is made up of 33.1% turboprops and the global average is at 38.6%. Canadians keep their aircraft a long time, with the average turboprop lifespan in its fleet being 26 years, while jets have a lifespan of 16 years. What the buyer base values The aircraft mix is not only based on geography. It shows the average Canadian buyer is conservative and value-driven by international standards. In 2023, Canadian firms spent 41 cents on machinery and equipment for every dollar spent by American counterparts. Novelty loses out to practicality with this mindset, which is also shown through the country's transactions. Most Canadian aircraft transactions involve models that are no longer in production. The tightest market in years Tariffs caused friction that unsettled buyers all throughout 2025 and early 2026, though this friction was resolved by late February. The return of bonus depreciation in U.S. and more steady financing have brought more demand in both U.S. and Canada. Since manufacturer backlogs have stretched to 2028, used, low-time aircraft that are well-documented are what trade quickly. Why the fleet is about to matter more Growth in mining, critical minerals and Arctic development are concentrated in places that are only reachable by air: Northern Ontario's Ring of Fire, northern Quebec and the Arctic itself. Over 15 million tons of rare-earth reserves are held by Canada, along with a few credible alternatives to Chinese supply. Turboprops are best matched to this terrain. Buyers who hold, and buy used Average aircraft prices dropped by 9% in 2025 and the average aircraft for sale is roughly 22 years old. Used aircraft that are no longer in production made up most transactions in every category. A total of 55.2% of turboprop deals and 85.7% of midsize jet transactions were out-of-production models. While this may seem backwards, it should be noted that new turboprops are still frequently bought in Canada because they suit the terrain and typical missions in the country, so more turboprop transactions are assigned to current production. The high percentage of midsize jets is because many jet models that do suit the average Canadian needs are no longer being built. Older aircraft that are well-kept still get the job done, which matters more than its first delivery date. For such a tight market, an aircraft that runs in the North is the one that nobody is going to sell.