Preowned Aircraft Market Diverged Through Q3 2026
Heavy and super-midsize jets saw rising values while light jet and turboprop transactions cooled.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Car Types
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The AMSTAT Q3 2026 report reveals a stark split in the preowned aircraft market, with heavy and super-midsize jets gaining in value and activity. Conversely, light jets and turboprops have experienced significant declines in transaction volume compared to 2025 levels.
Why it matters
Understanding these segment-specific trends is essential for owners and buyers, as supply and demand dynamics have shifted values by as much as 14 percent for some aircraft classes. These variations impact long-term asset planning and current purchasing strategies for aviation households.
Heavy jet transactions are up 7.3 percent year to date, while light jet sales fell 26 percent in Q3 2026 compared to Q3 2025. Turboprop transaction volume saw an even sharper decline, dropping 47 percent during the same quarterly period.
The players
AMSTAT
An industry organization that provides data and market research on corporate and preowned aircraft activity.
The details
The divergence in market performance is driven by a lack of available supply for heavy jets, which currently represent just 5.1 percent of the total fleet compared to a 10-year average of 7 percent. In contrast, light jet and turboprop segments are struggling with a combination of steady supply and waning buyer interest. Prices reflect these conditions: while heavy jet values have climbed 14 percent, turboprop values have trended downward by 5 percent year to date.
Timeline
2025 served as the baseline year for all aircraft transaction and value comparisons.
Q4 2025 marked the period when super-midsize jet inventory contracted significantly.
Q3 2026 is the specific period covered by the latest AMSTAT activity report.
October 20-22, 2026, is when the industry gathers for the NBAA-BACE 2026 conference in Las Vegas.
The Home Front
The preowned aircraft market is currently defined by a divergence between large-cabin jets and smaller regional aircraft. This trend mirrors supply-side constraints often seen in high-end vehicle markets, where restricted inventory continues to support rising valuations.
If you are managing an aircraft as a household asset, review your current valuation against these shifting segment benchmarks. Consult with a professional aviation broker to determine how the cooling demand for light jets and turboprops affects your specific exit or acquisition strategy.
The takeaway
The market for preowned aircraft is currently highly bifurcated, favoring owners of large-cabin jets while creating potential buyer leverage in the turboprop segment. Track your specific aircraft class performance closely as transaction volumes for smaller jets are expected to finish the year nearly 10 percent below 2025 levels.
Further reading
For broader insight into market shifts for high-value transportation assets, see Car Types.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Corporate Jet Investor.
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