AMSTAT Q2 2026 analysis reports transactions rebound as inventory tightens
AMSTAT’s second quarter (Q2) 2026 analysis of the preowned business aircraft market shows a rebound in transaction volume alongside continued inventory tightening across most segments.
Total preowned business aircraft transactions increased 11.2% in Q2 2026 compared to Q2 2025. Activity exceeded the 10-year Q2 average by 14%, the third-highest Q2 total of the past decade.
At the end of June 2026, preowned inventory stood at 5.8% of the active fleet, well below the 10-year average of 7.2% and at the lowest level since February 2024. Inventory declined 8.6% year-over-year (yoy)and contracted 9.5% since the end of 2025.
Preowned business jet transactions as a whole underperformed in Q1 (versus Q1 2025) but increased 15.5% yoy in Q2 2026, exceeding the 10-year average. Inventory tightened further, with just 6.5% of the active fleet available for sale, the lowest level since August 2023, compared to an 8.1% historical average.
Business jet median values were up 5% yoy and 2% year-to-date. By comparison, average asking prices based on listings declines.
Andrew Young, AMSTAT general manager said: “This divergence reflects a market where younger, higher value jets are trading and realised transaction values have continued to hold up while older, lower value units are staying on the market dragging down the average asking price.”
Heavy jets see ‘exceptional demand’
The heavy jet segment led the market, with Q2 2026 transactions surging 43.8% yoy (although Q2 2025 was a historically weaker quarter for this segment) and 44.2% above the 10-year average. By a wide margin the heavy jet segment was strongest performer of any segment in Q2. Year-to-date, preowned transaction activity is up 18.5%.
Inventory remains particularly constrained, with just 5.2% of the fleet available for sale, the lowest level since February 2023. Asking prices, however, fell sharply – down 34.6% yoy and 13.7% since the start of Q2 – while median values moved in the opposite direction, up 13% yoy and 8% year-to-date.
Other jet segments show ‘solid gains’
Super-mid jets preowned transactions in Q2 were roughly flat yoy but remained well above the 10-year average by 11.6%, with median values rising 6% yoy amid continued tight supply.
Medium jets preowned transactions in Q2 rose 13.6% yoy but came in 5.6% below the 10-year average – the only jet segment to fall short of its own historical average this quarter. Asking prices remained under pressure, down 25% yoy, though they edged up 5.5% since the start of Q2. Median values in this segment were up 5% yoy.
Light jets saw preowned transactions in Q2 rise 5.3% yoy, 10.3% above the 10-year average, with inventory tightening to the lowest level since March 2024. Asking prices were down 12.4% yoy but rose 2.9% since the start of Q2, while median values were up 2% yoy.
Turboprop transactions ‘turn positive’
Preowned turboprop transactions in Q1 underperformed Q1 2025 and their 10 year Q1 average. However, in Q2 they increased 3.5% yoy, exceeding the 10-year average by 3.8% – the fourth-highest Q2 total in the last ten years. Inventory tightened as well, with 4.8% of the fleet for sale, the lowest level since February 2025, down 6.7% yoy.
Turboprop median values, which had declined 8% yoy and 4% year-to-date, were flat in Q2, an early signal that the segment’s price declines may be stabilising after several quarters of softening, said AMSTAT. Asking prices held roughly steady, down just 1.4% yoy.
Looking forwqard
AMSTAT said across the global preowned business aircraft market, transaction volume remained robust in Q2, and constrained supply continues to underpin pricing in most segments.
“Inventory remains the defining feature of this market,” said Chris Skurat, AMSTAT director of sales, “with transaction counts up across most segments this quarter, sellers in tightly supplied segments like heavy jets are in an especially strong position.”
The full report can be found here.
