Market Report Shows Rising IADA Dealer Confidence As Demand for Preowned Aircraft Remains Strong

Third Quarter Survey Reflects Experienced Dealers' Perspectives on Tight Inventory, Seller Leverage and Continued Market Strength

LOS ANGELES, CA, UNITED STATES, October 26, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Confidence among the world's leading accredited aircraft dealers increased during the third quarter of 2026. Strong demand for preowned business aircraft, tight supplies of desirable models and extended manufacturer delivery backlogs continued to support a resilient global marketplace, according to the International Aircraft Dealers Association (IADA) Third Quarter Market Report.

IADA members rated current business aircraft sales market conditions at 3.62 on a five-point scale, up from 3.45 during the second quarter and 3.47 during the same period in 2025. Their assessments reflect firsthand experience with aircraft transactions, buyer behavior, pricing, inventory availability and changing market conditions. The report found that demand remained particularly strong for late-model, well-maintained aircraft, while limited supplies of quality inventory continued to strengthen sellers' negotiating positions.

"Buyers need expert guidance, and they are finding it with IADA Accredited Dealers and Certified Brokers. Many of the best aircraft now trade off-market through IADA Member relationships before ever being publicly listed," said IADA Executive Director Lou Seno. "Overall, the market is strong and maturing, with buyers more selective and pricing increasingly tied to aircraft condition," Seno added.

The third quarter report draws upon the collective knowledge of IADA Accredited Dealers, Certified Brokers and Verified Products and Services Members operating throughout North America, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Africa. IADA Accredited Dealers undergo rigorous independent accreditation and annual reaccreditation. Their extensive experience, professional relationships and adherence to established ethical standards provide a distinctive perspective on the changing business aircraft marketplace.

IADA Dealer Transaction Activity Remains Strong
During the first nine months of 2026, IADA Accredited Dealers completed 1,155 aircraft transactions compared to the 983 transactions reported during the same period in 2025. Third-quarter transactions totaled 409, compared with 367 during the third quarter of last year.

New acquisition agreements increased during the first nine months, reaching 510, while dealer inventory purchases rose to 127 aircraft. The continued strength of IADA dealer activity is noteworthy against independent research indicating more restrained transaction activity in the broader preowned business jet marketplace.

IADA's results reflect the activity of experienced aircraft transaction professionals operating in a competitive marketplace where relationships, market intelligence and transaction expertise remain especially important.

Increasing Confidence Reflects Continued Demand
The third-quarter survey indicates that the preowned aircraft market remains fundamentally healthy, supported by strong financial markets, wealth creation, favorable U.S. bonus depreciation provisions and limited availability of new aircraft delivery positions.

Manufacturer order backlogs extending several years have encouraged owners awaiting new aircraft to retain their existing airplanes, limiting the supply of desirable preowned aircraft. As a result, buyers seeking newer aircraft with specific configurations, favorable maintenance histories and lower flight hours frequently face limited choices and increased competition.

Measured on a five-point scale, with 1 favoring sellers and 5 favoring buyers, the latest reading represents the strongest seller advantage in almost three years. The trend is especially pronounced among late-model midsize and large-cabin aircraft, where limited supplies and sustained demand are supporting aircraft values.

IADA Dealers Provide Informed Market Perspective
The quarterly survey provides insight from professionals directly involved in business aircraft transactions, rather than relying exclusively on published listings or historical transaction data. IADA's Accredited Dealers and Certified Brokers frequently work with buyers and sellers before aircraft enter the public marketplace, giving them firsthand knowledge of emerging demand, potential aircraft availability, pricing expectations and developing transaction trends.

Their observations indicate that well-maintained, competitively priced aircraft continue to sell quickly, with some transactions completed through established professional relationships before aircraft are publicly advertised. Members also report that buyers are becoming more deliberate, paying closer attention to maintenance exposure, aircraft history, equipment, registration and long-term ownership costs.

The combination of limited inventory and increasingly sophisticated buyer requirements places additional importance on the experience and professional judgment of qualified aircraft transaction specialists.

Six-Month and 12-Month Market Outlooks Remain Favorable
IADA members anticipate continued demand for business aircraft during the next six months, particularly for late-model midsize and large-cabin jets, while their longer-term outlook points toward a generally stable marketplace over the coming year.

In a separate survey question addressing the next 12 months, IADA members projected generally stable business aircraft market conditions, with sentiment leaning toward improvement rather than softening. That longer-term assessment is particularly significant because it reflects the expectations of experienced dealers and other aviation professionals whose businesses depend on understanding aircraft availability, transaction activity, pricing and changing market dynamics.

Approximately 60% of survey respondents expect prices for preowned Large Jet+ aircraft to increase during the next six months, reflecting particularly limited inventory in that category. Across the four aircraft categories surveyed, turboprop, light jet, midsize jet and large jet, members generally expect prices to remain stable or increase modestly, while available inventory remains stable or declines slightly.

Approximately 30% of participating dealers expect to increase their willingness to acquire aircraft for inventory, reflecting continued confidence in underlying demand. Despite geopolitical uncertainty, operating cost pressures and ongoing supply chain constraints, the survey findings indicate a resilient marketplace supported by strong underlying demand and limited availability of desirable aircraft.

About the IADA Market Report
The IADA Market Report combines actual aircraft transaction activity submitted monthly by IADA Accredited Dealers with the association's proprietary quarterly Perspective Survey. The survey is distributed to more than 1,000 IADA members worldwide, including Accredited Dealers, Certified Brokers, aircraft manufacturers and verified Products and Services Members.The complete Third Quarter 2026 Market Report is available at https://aircraftexchange.com/market-report.

Perspectives From IADA Members
The following observations from IADA Accredited Dealers and verified Products and Services Members illustrate the market conditions and trends identified in the third-quarter report.

Current Market Conditions
"I think the aircraft sales market is in a pretty healthy place overall. On the pre-owned side, demand remains strong, inventory is still relatively limited, and good airplanes that are priced appropriately are selling. On the new side, strong order books and extended delivery positions continue to support the pre-owned market, particularly for late-model aircraft."
Colby Creger, West Elk Aviation, IADA Accredited Dealer

"Anything I can list in pre-owned sells almost immediately for market price or more. I am sold out of new aircraft slots through 2027."
Steve Davis, Elliott Jets, IADA Accredited Dealer

"Great pre-owned aircraft continue to turn. We spend a lot of efforts supporting large new aircraft fleet orders for special mission clients and the lengthy OEM production schedules get in the way of orders."
Jim Riner, Wetzel Aviation, IADA Accredited Dealer

"Good airplanes sell quickly. It is hard to be a buyer in many markets."
Josh Mesinger, Mesinger Jet Sales, IADA Accredited Dealer

"We are continuing to see robust demand in Southern and Central Africa from UHNWI in the Light to Super-Midsize categories (predominantly pre-owned), as well as in the Tourism markets in the Single and Twin-Engine Turboprop markets (predominantly new)."
Neil Howard, Absolute Aviation, IADA Accredited Dealer

Transaction Activity and Market Dynamics
"The current aircraft sales market is defined by a massive delta between OEM lead times and an incredibly tight preowned market. While the broader economy has seen rising borrowing costs, the business aviation sector is defying gravity. Demand has moved decisively upmarket, favoring newer, larger, and higher capability aircraft. The difference between buying factory new versus preowned involves distinct market constraints and contractual hurdles but is driven by usage needs."
Emmanuel Anton, Bizjet Law, IADA Verified Products and Services Member

"Continued strengthening as we approach the year end rush. A buyer sourcing a quality well priced asset will be an impossibility without having a team on their side. We're already seeing an uptick in quiet or off market aircraft trade before publicly being advertised."
David Monacell, CFS Jets, IADA Accredited Dealer

"Buyers are active, but they're deliberate. Transactions take longer. Pricing's very condition-specific. Inventory is splotchy, some segments are oversupplied, while others are the exact opposite, but quality aircraft are moving."
Scott Oshman, Oshman Aviation, IADA Accredited Dealer

"With the overall good behavior of stock markets and some stability within the instability, customers are still moving forward in finding aircraft and moving laterally when not finding the desired one. Sellers now consider aircraft value 'appreciation' as a given, which could be a future concern."
Adolfo Nieto, Wulf Aviation, IADA Accredited Dealer

"I would characterize the market very active with some good opportunities."
Andy Toy, Axiom Aviation, IADA Accredited Dealer

Supply and Pricing
"The market remains supply-constrained, particularly for late-model preowned aircraft. High demand and limited availability are pushing values higher, with the best aircraft often selling at a premium through off-market transactions before reaching the broader market. Until supply chain constraints ease or demand softens, new aircraft backlogs will likely remain measured in years, and the supply-constrained dynamic in the late-model preowned market will persist."
Phil Winters, Western Aircraft Inc., IADA Accredited Dealer

"The current business jet market presents a highly resilient demand environment; however, OEM production output is constrained. Used aircraft inventory remains exceptionally tight providing a solid floor for valuations despite a relatively flat sequential trend in average asking prices."
Shaun Holstein, Holstein Aviation, IADA Accredited Dealer

"With quality inventory limited, we're acting before aircraft reach the market. The value of an experienced, well-connected broker has arguably never been greater."
Chris Meisner, Meisner Aircraft, IADA Accredited Dealer

"The business aircraft marketplace is demonstrating enduring strength. Fueled by entrepreneurial energy and underlying wealth creation, customer demand is providing the solid foundation needed to support investment decisions across the sector."
Rolland Vincent, Rolland Vincent Associates, IADA Verified Products and Services Member

Six-Month Market Outlook
"Overall, the market is being driven by sellers due to a limited supply of reliable pre-owned aircraft, and even those are experiencing difficulty during inspections due to limited parts availability in the secondary market."
Michael Barber, JetAVIVA, IADA Accredited Dealer

"Demand remains strong. Later model, lower time aircraft continue to be challenging to find. I find myself putting together deals through relationships with other IADA members, who share information on pending listings, well in advance of the rest of the marketplace."
Toby Smith, JBA Jets, IADA Accredited Dealer

"There is still tremendous demand for quality aircraft, while buyers have become more price conscious and are taking more time to evaluate maintenance status, aircraft history, configuration, and overall value."
Chongjian Wen, Leviate Air Group, IADA Accredited Dealer

"High Demand + Low Supply + Feverish Transaction Pace = Prices Continue Pushing Upwards (Seller holds all cards). This creates a real challenge for buyers and those who serve their interests. Q4 will exacerbate the above conditions and challenges. As (acquisition) brokers, our role has largely shifted from finding the best value and/or cheapest price, to educating our client fully on market conditions and preparing them to move with pricing secondary to pace of responsiveness and execution."
Johnny Foster, OGARAJETS, IADA Accredited Dealer

"Overall stable, strong demand for the amount of aircraft in the market."
Franco Curiel, Wulf Aviation, IADA Accredited Dealer

Looking Ahead
"The business will be fast and furious through year's end. I have to believe we will see some slowdown as we move into 2027, but if OEM backlogs remain strong, so too should pre-owned aircraft demand. Supply is a consistent challenge."
Chad Anderson, Jetcraft, IADA Accredited Dealer

"When the newer aircraft are finally delivered then the sellers holding the reins on pricing will lessen due to them wanting to sell their older aircraft. Right now, it's a bottle neck."
Laurie Barringer, ACASS, IADA Accredited Dealer

"Going forward, stable from here. Likely the same, limited supply and strong demand."
Josh Mesinger, Mesinger Jet Sales, IADA Accredited Dealer

"Political and international instability is becoming almost normal; it is far too unpredictable to wait and see. Therefore, many clients are now buying but trying to de-risk as far as possible and this is leading to changes in how they buy/own aircraft."
Heather Gordon, Martyn Fiddler, IADA Verified Products and Services Member

"As commercial air travel faces continued reliability challenges, companies are placing greater value on the flexibility, efficiency and reliability of business aviation. We expect investment in private aviation to remain strong with a growing number of new buyers."
Chris Meisner, Meisner Aircraft, IADA Accredited Dealer

About IADA
The International Aircraft Dealers Association is a professional trade organization that sets the standard for excellence in the aircraft resale industry. IADA members are among the most experienced and respected professionals in the field, committed to maintaining the highest levels of integrity, transparency and expertise.

IADA-Accredited Dealers undergo rigorous vetting and continuous reaccreditation, ensuring that they meet the highest standards of professional conduct and service. IADA Products & Services members are verified to assure the highest ethical standards and levels of experience. For more information, visit https://iada.aero.

About AircraftExchange.com
IADA's AircraftExchange marketing search portal is the only site where every aircraft listed for sale is represented by an IADA-Accredited Dealer. AircraftExchange enables users to create a confidential dashboard of business jets for sale, filtered by features and amenities, class size, age and price. Users can browse data-rich listings of available business aircraft. For more information, visit https://aircraftexchange.com.

Jim Gregory for IADA
James Gregory Consultancy llc
+1 316-706-9147
Visit us on social media:
LinkedIn
Facebook
X
Other