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BUSINESS AVIaTION
MARKET BRIEF

OVERVIEW

The business jet market was on solid footing in Q4 2025.

With a positive macroeconomic environment, business jet market fundamentals remained strong, including rising usage and transaction activity and steady aircraft availability and values. These trends supported the market’s stability and set the stage for continued momentum into 2026.

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Q4 2025 HIGHLIGHTS

  • Following uncertainty earlier in the year, the global economy continued to grow in Q4 2025, and some economists have upgraded their growth expectations.
  • Business jet departures experienced broad-based growth in Q4, rising 4.6 percent year over year.
  • OEM backlogs rose 10.4 percent year over year in Q4 2025 as industry-wide orders increased.
  • Transaction activity was strong in 2025, with total volume increasing 9.8 percent year over year.
  • Pre-owned aircraft available for sale as a percentage of the total installed base was lower in Q4 2025 than Q4 2024, declining from to 6.9 percent from 7.4 percent.
  • In Q4 2025, bluebook values increased 0.4 percent, reflecting stability between supply and demand during the quarter.

GLOBAL ECONOMY

1 Global Economy (i)

Global economic growth slowed to 2.5 percent in Q4 2025 from an average of about 3 percent in the first three quarters of the year. Still, growth in the quarter was stronger than expected earlier in the year when economists were concerned about uncertainty following the White House’s announcement of new tariffs on several major U.S. trading partners.ii Q4 marked a period of relative stability in the global economy, despite disruptions earlier in the year. In the U.S., inflation moderated, consumer spending remained resilient, and the housing market began to show signs of normalization.iii Internationally, inflation also eased during Q4,iv while the global economy remained resilient despite ongoing uncertainty.v

Heading into 2026, uncertainty and geopolitical risk remain. Economists have become increasingly optimistic, however, forecasting resilience will carry over into 2026.vi The IMF expects the global economy will grow 3.3 percent in 2026, an improvement of 0.2 percentage points from its October 2025 forecast.vii The World Bank forecasts global growth of 2.6 percent, also a 0.2 percentage point increase from its June 2025 projection, although noting persistent downside risks.viii

With steady economic growth and the wealth creation that accompanies it, the business jet market should be well supported in 2026.

FLIGHT OPERATIONS

2 Global Biz Jet Flight Ops (ix)

The strong demand for business aviation that emerged during the fall 2024 travel season carried into 2025, driving annual flight operations growth of 3.8 percent. Activity accelerated in the fourth quarter, rising 4.6 percent year over year. Growth was broad-based, with departures increasing 4.3 percent in North America and 5.4 percent in the rest of the world compared to Q4 2024. Fractional operations remained the leading growth segment, posting solid gains throughout the quarter.

Departures in Q4 2025 increased 0.7 percent from Q3 2025, roughly in line with the 1.1 percent sequential growth seen in Q4 2024 and an improvement over the 2.1 percent decline recorded in Q4 2023. With activity reaching elevated levels in 2025, total flight operations ended the year 3 percent higher overall than in 2022, the previous peak year for departures.

This strong performance underscores the consistent expansion of the business aviation user base over the past five years. Supported by the industry’s core value propositions — personal safety, flexibility, productivity, and comfort — flight operations are expected to remain resilient in future periods.

OEM BACKLOGS

OEM-Backlog

 

OEM backlogs (excluding Dassault, which has not reported as of publication time) rose 10.4 percent year over year in Q4 2025, reaching $53.6 billion. Manufacturers continued making progress resolving supply chain and labor issues, with deliveries gradually increasing during the quarter. Industry-wide book-to-bill ratios were strong during the quarter even as deliveries and revenue increased, demonstrating continued strong demand for new business jets. Lead times among major manufacturers remained between 18 and 24 months, supporting current delivery levels into 2026 while maintaining a healthy backlog

TRANSACTIONS ($ VOLUME)

4 YTD Biz Jet Transactions (xi)

Note that the latest figures from 2025 reflect preliminary data and may increase as more transactions are reported to data providers.

In 2025, overall transaction dollar volume increased 9.7 percent compared to 2024. After a 0.4 percent year-over-year decline in Q2 2025, activity rebounded sharply in Q3, with transaction volume rising 20.5 percent versus Q3 2024. Growth moderated but remained positive in Q4, as transaction volume increased 3.5 percent year over year. For the full year, business jet transaction dollar volume was evenly split between new deliveries and pre-owned transactions, reflecting a stable and healthy market environment.

New deliveries grew steadily throughout 2025, reflecting a “new normal” in aircraft production levels from the lows of the pandemic. Though meaningful supply chain and labor constraints remain, OEMs have largely normalized their manufacturing and have kept backlogs relatively steady. As a result, new delivery dollar volume rose 6.1 percent compared to 2024. Though early reporting indicated that new unit deliveries declined 1.2 percent, it should be noted that not all 2025 deliveries had been reported at the time of publication, and this figure is expected to increase as reporting is finalized.

The pre-owned market also performed well in 2025, with unit volume expanding 17.8 percent in Q4 and 13.5 percent for the full year. Momentum in the pre-owned market has remained steady since late 2024, underscoring sustained demand for business jets. This strength is expected to be carried into 2026 as operators continue to upgrade their fleets and bonus depreciation incentives support additional purchasing activity.

FOR SALE INVENTORY

5 Aircraft Listed for Sale (xii)

Aircraft listings declined 5.6 percent year over year in Q4 2025, largely in line with the 5.8 percent decline in new listings for the full year.

In 2021, strong market activity led to many transactions involving unlisted aircraft, supporting a 25.3 percent drop in public listings when compared to 2019. From early 2022 through mid-2024, however, sellers gradually returned to publicly listing their aircraft, bringing activity back in line with historical norms and driving an increase in new listings.

As the market stabilized in late 2024 and 2025, listings began to decline once again. The composition of those listings has also shifted since 2019. In 2019, aircraft aged 13 years or older accounted for 58.4 percent of listings; by 2025, that share had risen to 69.6 percent. Meanwhile, listings for aircraft aged 12 years or younger fell 20.1 percent over the same period and made up just 30.4 percent of total listings in 2025.

6 Percentage of Biz Jet Fleet for Sale (xiii)

In Q4 2025, aircraft availability declined, falling from 7.6 percent of the total fleet in Q3 2025 to 6.9 percent. Availability at the end of the quarter was also lower than the 7.5 percent recorded at the end of Q4 2024 and well below the historical average of roughly 10 percent. This decline was driven by fewer new listings and continued strength in the pre-owned market throughout late 2024 and 2025. The period of stability followed a stretch of rising availability, as more aircraft were publicly listed during 2023 and 2024.

Availability among aircraft 12 years old and younger was lower than that of older models in Q4 2025, standing at 4.0 percent of the fleet, down from 5.0 percent in Q4 2024. In contrast, availability of aircraft aged 13 years and older was 8.4 percent, a modest decline from 8.8 percent a year earlier.

The relationship between supply and demand is expected to remain balanced in 2026, with steady listings and availability continuing to track below historical averages.

RESIDUAL VALUE

7 YoY Change in Values (xiv)

The above chart compares the year-over-year percentage change in the bluebook value of like-aged aircraft over time (e.g., the difference between the value of an eight-year-old aircraft from one year to the next). Global Jet Capital analyzes a basket of aircraft as a proxy for the overall market. Values vary on a model-by-model basis and observed increases or decreases in value are not necessarily applicable to any specific aircraft make/model. For the value of a specific aircraft, please contact a licensed aircraft appraiser.

In Q4 2025, aircraft bluebook values for like-aged aircraft increased 0.4 percent from Q4 2024, extending a trend of relative stability that began in late 2023. Between Q3 and Q4 2025, aggregate values fell 0.6 percent, remaining broadly in line with historical patterns.

This period of relative stability followed significant value gains between 2021 and 2023, driven by strong demand and limited availability for business jets. By 2023, aircraft availability began to normalize, restoring balance between supply and demand and contributing to the current phase of price stability. Although availability declined in Q4, stability largely continued during the quarter.

Despite this overall steadiness, value trends varied across the installed base in Q4 2025. As noted earlier, availability of older aircraft remained higher than that of younger aircraft. As a result, values for aircraft aged 13 years and older declined 0.7 percent during the quarter as they continued to normalize following the gains recorded between 2021 and 2023. In contrast, values for aircraft 12 years and younger increased modestly, rising 0.8 percent.

It is worth noting that business jets are depreciating assets and a steady decline in the price of an aircraft over its lifespan is to be expected. The current consensus among industry players is that supply and demand are well-balanced and should support stable aircraft values in the foreseeable future, economic uncertainty notwithstanding.

\ CONCLUSION

Q4 2025 was a solid quarter for the business jet market, capping off a solid year.

Although uncertainty and volatility defined the broader macroeconomic environment earlier in the year, global growth continued and many economists raised their forecasts as the year progressed. Against this backdrop, the business jet market remained strong in 2025, with usage increasing year over year and accelerating in in the second half of the year. Transactions were also steady throughout most of the year, while availability and values remained stable. Overall, the market appears well positioned to continue to remain strong in 2026.

 

DID YOU KNOW AN OPERATING LEASE PROVIDES AN OWNERSHIP EXPERIENCE WITHOUT BEING IN THE FULL BUSINESS OF OWNING AN AIRCRAFT?

GLOBAL JET CAPITAL RECENT TRANSACTIONS

Global Jet Capital is a leader in the business jet financing market, providing leases and loans for both new and used aircraft. Our clients are diverse but all value flexible financing solutions for their aircraft. Below is a brief overview of a few recent transactions that Global Jet Capital has facilitated

RECENT TRANSACTIONS

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RECENT TRANSACTIONS

A long-time client with whom Global Jet Capital has built a trusted relationship was seeking to upgrade its fleet with new aircraft.

The client values operating leases from GJC for their predictability, enabling a repeatable fleet replacement cycle aligning with the client’s budget processes. Repeating the support we provided in the client’s last re-fleeting, GJC delivered a seamless and tailored solution meeting the client’s specific requirements. Demonstrating our commitment to exceptional execution and flexibility, we worked hand in hand with the client throughout the entire process, quickly adapting to evolving needs prior to closing and providing flexible disposition options supporting long-term fleet continuity.

 

AIRCRAFT CLASS
Ultra Long Range

NEW/PRE-OWNED
New

REGION
Americas

FINANCIAL PRODUCT(S)
Operating Lease



RECENT TRANSACTIONS

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Jet-icon

RECENT TRANSACTIONS

A longstanding client with whom Global Jet Capital has built a trusted relationship sought to upgrade to a newer aircraft to support its evolving operational needs.

Recognizing the client’s priorities, we leveraged our structural flexibility and aviation expertise to evaluate solutions beyond traditional bank financing. After reviewing several options collaboratively, the client determined that an operating lease best aligned with its budget constraints and need for operational flexibility. We delivered a tailored operating lease solution that offered clear advantages over bank alternatives. In addition, our experience navigating complex regulatory and multi-jurisdictional transactions enabled us to structure and execute the deal seamlessly, reinforcing the client’s confidence in the outcome.

AIRCRAFT CLASS
Ultra Long Range

NEW/PRE-OWNED
New

REGION
Americas

FINANCIAL PRODUCT(S)
Operating Lease



RECENT TRANSACTIONS

Jet-icon
Jet-icon

RECENT TRANSACTIONS

A valued existing client was seeking to upgrade its aircraft to better support its evolving operational needs.

In a tight market environment, Global Jet Capital stepped in to provide a flexible solution, leveraging an immediately available, high-quality aircraft returning from lease. By presenting this turnkey solution, we enabled the client to move forward quickly and confidently with its acquisition. Furthermore, through our deep industry relationships and experience navigating complex transactions involving multiple parties, we seamlessly facilitated a timely and tailored outcome aligned with the client’s broader objectives.

 

AIRCRAFT CLASS
Ultra Long Range

NEW/PRE-OWNED
Pre-Owned

REGION
Americas

FINANCIAL PRODUCT(S)
Operating Lease

Notes

iOxford Economics,  iiWhite House,  iiiWells Fargo,  ivWells Fargo,  vWells Fargo,  viWells Fargo,  viiIMF,  viiiWorld Bank;  ixWingX and Global Jet Capital analysis;  xCompany financial reports and GJC analysis. Dassault has not reported year-end results at the time of publication and has not been included in this edition.,  xiJetNet and Global Jet Capital Analysis. Units are in parentheses.,  xiiAmstat and Global Jet Capital Analysis.,  xiiiJetNet and Global Jet Capital analysis,  xivAircraft Bluebook and Global Jet Capital analysis, 

PREVIOUS MARKET BRIEFS

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