Aircraft transaction consulting specialist Mente Group's business outlook regarding pre-owned business jet sales and purchases for the remainder of 2019 is now active.

“With more aircraft on the market recently, buyers and sellers are seeking to make deals before the end of the year to hedge against the economic, political and tax uncertainties that 2020 might bring,” says president and CEO Brian Proctor. “We have seen some slight price declines recently that have offset higher prices on a slower volume earlier in the year, and the next three weeks will really be busy.”

He goes on to say that the pre-owned business jet market is balanced now, with an equal number of buyers and sellers seeking to make deals: “There are a lot of business jet owners and buyers who are trying to take advantage of the minimum tax environment we are in right now.” Depending on political events in an election year, the currently favourable tax climate could change in 2020, so both buyers and sellers have been trying to lock in certainty in the past few months, and the fourth quarter has been notably active.

Several international economies are teetering on recession. Coupled with an upcoming election and ongoing impeachment hearings, this has contributed to profit taking in the stock markets. Proctor notes that the future business jet marketplace could shift to the advantage of buyers.

“With all of this going on as we wind up the year, the pre-owned aircraft market is trying to get ahead of potential changes. As a result, aircraft brokers and lenders have been busy lately,” he continues. “We anticipate a lot of activity next year, but there are buyers and sellers who are definitely trying to lock in the knowns versus the unknowns after the election.”