GAMA reports an increase of almost 15% in business jet deliveries in the first quarter of 2026

The General Aviation Manufacturers Association released numbers for the first quarter of 2026 on May 29: 877 civil aircraft delivered in the period, with total revenue of US$6.85 billion. The most significant data is in executive jets: 162 units in the quarter, an increase of 14.9% over the 141 delivered in the same period in 2025.

The geographic concentration was remarkable. The majority of jet deliveries left factories and were registered in the United States: 121 of the 162 units. This reflects both the industrial base and the weight of the American domestic market in purchasing decisions for the category.

Among business jet manufacturers, Gulfstream led the way with 38 deliveries, followed by Embraer with 29 and Bombardier with 24. In the broader general aviation universe, Cirrus Aircraft dominated the rankings with 196 aircraft delivered — a significant share of the piston segment, which grew 6.4% to 381 units.

The contrast with other segments is useful to contextualize the jets' performance. Turboprops fell 3.1% to 124 units, and turbine helicopters fell 9% to 121. In an environment where some general aviation still faces cost pressure and a limited supply of technical labor, executive jets moved in the opposite direction — suggesting that corporate and high-net-worth demand remained resilient in the first few months of the year.