Heavy jet values climb as preowned supply stays thin

Amstat says heavy business jet resale values rose sharply in Q3 2026, while only 5.1% of the heavy-jet fleet was for sale on September 30. That is well below the 10-year average of 7%.

• October 12, 2026: AIN reported Amstat’s Q3 market update
• 5.1% of the heavy-jet fleet was for sale on September 30, 2026
• 10-year average heavy-jet availability is 7%
• Super-midsize jet inventory was 11.4% higher year to date than in 2025
• Midsize, light jet and turboprop deal activity was softer

The preowned aircraft market is not moving in one neat direction. Amstat’s third-quarter update shows heavy and super-midsize jets tightening, while smaller jets and turboprops are seeing softer transaction activity.

The standout figure is heavy jets: only 5.1% of the fleet was listed for sale on September 30, below the 10-year average of 7%. That scarcity helped resale values rise during the quarter. Super-midsize inventory, however, was 11.4% higher year to date than in 2025.

For buyers, the lesson is that “the market” depends heavily on cabin size. A large-cabin aircraft with the right age, range and maintenance history can still act like a scarce asset, while other categories may give shoppers more room to negotiate.