Q2 2026: Where the Market Stands
The pre-owned business jet market in Q2 2026 is best described as normalized. The pandemic-era frenzy that drove prices 30-40% above historical norms has fully corrected. Values across most categories have returned to trend lines consistent with pre-2020 depreciation curves, adjusted for inflation and fleet age.
That correction is not a crash. It is a reversion to fundamentals. The buyers who paid 2021-2022 peak prices are underwater on residual value, but current acquisition pricing reflects rational economics: aircraft are worth what they cost to operate, maintain, and eventually resell, discounted by age and condition.
8.2%
Pre-Owned Inventory Rate
+1.2%
YoY Super-Midsize Values
Light Jets: Softening
The light jet segment is experiencing the most pronounced pricing pressure in Q2 2026. Inventory levels have climbed above the 10-year average, and days-on-market have extended from 90 days to 140+ days for most models.
| Model | Typical Year | Q2 2026 Ask | YoY Change |
|---|
| Cessna Citation CJ3+ | 2016-2018 | $6.2-7.0M | -5% |
| Embraer Phenom 300 | 2015-2017 | $6.8-7.5M | -3% |
| Cessna Citation M2 | 2017-2019 | $3.8-4.2M | -6% |
| HondaJet HA-420 | 2018-2020 | $4.5-5.0M | -4% |
The softening is driven by supply, not collapsing demand. Fractional operators are cycling older light jets out of their fleets as new deliveries arrive. These well-maintained, high-time aircraft enter the market in clusters, temporarily suppressing values for similar vintage airframes.
Midsize: Stable With Exceptions
The midsize category, spanning aircraft like the Citation Latitude, Learjet 75, and Hawker 900XP, shows the most stable pricing of any segment. Values are essentially flat year-over-year, with transaction prices tracking within 2% of Q2 2025 levels.
The exception is the Learjet family. Bombardier's decision to end Learjet production has created a bifurcated dynamic: late-model Learjet 75s are holding value better than expected (scarcity premium), while older Learjet 45/60 models are depreciating faster as parts availability concerns grow.
| Model | Typical Year | Q2 2026 Ask | YoY Change |
|---|
| Cessna Citation Latitude | 2017-2019 | $13.5-15.0M | +1% |
| Learjet 75 | 2016-2018 | $7.5-8.5M | +3% |
| Hawker 900XP | 2010-2012 | $4.0-4.8M | -2% |
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Super-Midsize: Holding Strong
Super-midsize jets remain the strongest segment in the pre-owned market. The Bombardier Challenger 350, Cessna Citation Sovereign+, and Embraer Praetor 600 all show positive or flat year-over-year pricing.
The demand driver is straightforward: the super-midsize category offers the best combination of range, cabin size, and operating economics for the majority of U.S. business travel patterns. A Challenger 350 flies coast-to-coast nonstop with a full cabin, operates from 5,000-foot runways, and costs 30-40% less per hour than a heavy jet. For most operators, it is the right-sized aircraft.
| Model | Typical Year | Q2 2026 Ask | YoY Change |
|---|
| Bombardier Challenger 350 | 2017-2019 | $18.0-20.5M | +2% |
| Cessna Citation Longitude | 2020-2022 | $24.0-27.0M | +1% |
| Embraer Praetor 600 | 2020-2022 | $21.0-24.0M | +3% |
Heavy & Ultra-Long-Range: A Bifurcated Market
The heavy and ultra-long-range segments show the widest pricing dispersion. Late-model flagships, the Gulfstream G650ER, Bombardier Global 7500, and Dassault Falcon 8X, hold value exceptionally well due to constrained supply and persistent demand from ultra-high-net-worth buyers.
Older heavies tell a different story. Gulfstream GIV-SP and GV aircraft, Bombardier Global Express XRS, and Falcon 900 variants have entered a phase of accelerating depreciation. These aircraft are 15-25 years old, face significant maintenance events, and compete against newer super-midsize jets that offer similar capability at lower operating costs.
Supply and Demand Dynamics
Pre-owned inventory sits at approximately 8.2% of the total fleet, up from a low of 4.1% in 2022 but still below the historical 10-year average of 10.5%. The market is no longer undersupplied, but it is not oversupplied either.
Demand patterns in Q2 2026 show regional variation. U.S. domestic demand remains the strongest, driven by corporate travel and the restored 100% bonus depreciation. European demand has softened slightly as EU ETS costs and SAF mandates add operating cost friction. Middle East and Asia-Pacific demand continues to grow, particularly for ultra-long-range aircraft.
What This Means for Buyers
For buyers, Q2 2026 offers a favorable acquisition environment across most categories:
- Light jet buyers have negotiating leverage. Inventory is high, and sellers are motivated. This is the best light jet buying market since 2019.
- Super-midsize buyers should move decisively. Good aircraft in this segment do not sit long, and pricing shows no signs of softening.
- Heavy jet buyers face a choice: pay a premium for a late-model flagship or find significant value in well-maintained 15-year-old airframes. Start your acquisition with our team or list your aircraft for sale 15-year-old airframes that still have a decade of useful life remaining.
- All buyers benefit from the restored 100% bonus depreciation. The combination of normalized pricing and full first-year write-off is the strongest acquisition incentive in years.
