Used jet market cools in the first half of the year while new ones remain strong

The used business jet market lost pace in the first half of 2026. According to AircraftPost, 502 aircraft were sold until June, while 728 entered the available list — both indicators in decline compared to the previous semester. It's a sign of settling down after the years of frenzy that followed the pandemic, when available inventory hit historic lows and prices soared.

Reading needs nuance. Fewer sales and fewer aircraft coming up for sale at the same time indicate a market that is slowing down in an orderly manner, not a bloated inventory that is difficult to dispose of. Across segments, large-cabin models maintained movement, with the Gulfstream IV-SP among the names cited as a business driver in the category — proof that there is liquidity where the right product finds the right buyer.

The contrast with the new aircraft market is what gives relevance to the data. As used fuel cools, deliveries of zero-hour jets continued to rise at the beginning of the year, and manufacturers maintain robust order books. In other words, the top buyer remains willing to wait months for a new aircraft instead of taking on a used one immediately — a behavior that supports primary prices and puts pressure on secondary prices.

For those considering purchasing or exchanging, the practical message is window. A colder secondary market tends to return negotiating power to the buyer, with longer exposure periods and less competition per unit. On the seller's side, it reinforces the importance of pricing realistically and presenting the aircraft in impeccable condition — in an accommodation cycle, it is the well-cared for and correctly advertised asset that continues to rotate.