Preowned Aircraft Market Stays Strong in Late 2025: AMSTAT Report

Preowned Business Aircraft Market Maintains Momentum Into Q4 2025

The preowned business aircraft market continues to defy economic headwinds, with transaction volumes remaining well above historical norms as 2025 enters its final quarter. According to fresh data from AMSTAT, a leading US aviation data firm, overall jet and turboprop transactions finished the third quarter 3% higher than Q3 2024 and nearly 10% above the 10-year average—a remarkable streak of sustained demand.

Year-to-date resale activity tells an even more compelling story. Through the first three quarters of 2025, preowned aircraft transactions are running 8.7% ahead of the same period in 2024, demonstrating that buyer appetite remains strong despite slowly rising inventory levels across most segments.

Jets Drive Market Strength

Business jets remain the engine of market momentum. Preowned business jet transactions increased 5.6% year-over-year in Q3, finishing 12.4% above the long-term average. Within the jet category, performance varied by segment.

Heavy jets posted a 2.7% gain over Q3 2024, with the Gulfstream G550, GIV-SP, and G650ER leading the charge. While heavy-jet inventory rose 5.4%, with 7.3% of the active fleet listed for sale, sustained demand continues to support valuations in this premium segment.

Medium jets delivered one of the quarter’s biggest surprises, surging 14.2% year-over-year, led by the Hawker 800XP, Citation Excel, and Citation XLS+. This unexpected strength suggests buyers are finding compelling value propositions in this traditionally stable category.

Light jets maintained their quick turnover patterns, with transactions up 8.2% year-over-year and 12.9% higher year-to-date. The Cirrus Vision Jet and Citation Mustang dominated activity in this entry-level segment.

Super-midsize jets experienced a slight quarterly dip compared to 2024, though year-to-date activity remains 9.6% higher, with the Citation X, Citation Sovereign, and Gulfstream G200 seeing the most trading activity.

Turboprop Market Shows Signs of Cooling

The turboprop segment presents a more measured picture. Transactions declined 1.8% for the quarter, though year-to-date activity still registers 3.5% above 2024. Turboprop inventory grew 11.5%, with 5.3% of the active fleet now listed—still below the long-term average of 6.1%.

Valuation pressures emerged in turboprops, with median values dropping 13% year-over-year and average asking prices slipping 2.6%, suggesting this segment may be experiencing modest correction after periods of elevated demand.

Fleet Age and Geographic Trends

Across the market, aircraft demographics continue shifting. Aircraft more than 20 years old now represent 52% of units on the market, while airplanes less than 10 years old account for just 20%—down two percentage points from 2024. This composition reflects broader market dynamics around depreciation cycles and buyer preferences.

Geographically, North America maintains dominance with 70% of listings, while Western Europe has increased its market share to 37%. OEM representation remained relatively stable, with Cessna and Dassault posting modest inventory gains while Beechcraft and Pilatus saw slight declines.

Q4 Tax Incentive Expected to Drive Closings

Industry observers expect a significant acceleration in transaction closings during Q4 2025, driven by the return of 100% bonus depreciation tax treatment in the US tax code. Buyers are expected to move aggressively to close qualifying business aircraft purchases before year-end to capture enhanced tax deductions.

“The preowned market continues to demonstrate resilience and depth across most segments,” said AMSTAT General Manager Andrew Young. “Despite growing inventories, sustained transaction activity and firm demand suggest ongoing confidence among buyers and sellers heading into the final quarter of 2025.”

For aircraft owners, operators, and industry stakeholders, the data underscores a market in healthy equilibrium—one where rising inventory hasn’t significantly dampened buyer enthusiasm and where diverse demand across multiple segments suggests opportunities regardless of aircraft type or vintage.

Source ID: SRCE-2025-1764237646461-993