Toronto, Canada-headquartered helicopter sales and market intelligence firm Aero Asset has released its 2024 Half Year Heli Market Trends Twin-Engine edition. Aero Asset leverages proprietary market intelligence to deliver a comprehensive analysis of the market, allowing readers to navigate the shifting dynamics of the preowned twin-engine helicopter market.

“Our analysis shows a 30 per cent year-over-year decrease in retail sales volume of pre-owned twin-engine helicopters in the first half of 2024, and a 26 per cent increase in supply for sale,” says Valerie Pereira, vice president of market research. Additionally, Pereira explains that the absorption rate had increased to 18 months of supply at current trade levels.

Despite the lower sales volume, average pre-owned trading prices have reached a five-year peak across all twin-engine asset classes, with the biggest average transaction price increases in the light (+21 per cent) and medium twin-engine helicopter markets (+14 per cent) year over year (YOY).

Retail sales declined across all weight classes YOY. The medium twin market saw the biggest drop in retail sales (-46 per cent YOY), followed by heavies (-25 per cent YOY) and light twin-engine helicopters (-14 per cent YOY). Supply for sale of light twin-engine helicopters reached one of its highest levels; conversely, medium and heavy twin market supply for sale reached their lowest point in five years.

In the first half of 2024, Europe was the only region to buck the trend and see an increase in pre-owned retail transactions (+five per cent YOY). Asia Pacific experienced the biggest regional drop in retail sales volume (-73 per cent YOY). Supply in North America and Europe increased by five per cent and 35 per cent respectively YOY. These regions represented 62 per cent of the total supply and accounted for two-thirds of total retail sales in the first half of 2024.

The best performing pre-owned twin-engine market during the first six months of 2024 was the Airbus EC/H145, followed by the Airbus EC/H135 and the Leonardo AW139. The slowest performing pre-owned twin markets were the Airbus EC/H155 and Sikorsky S76D markets, with absorption rates over three years.

Aero Asset's Heli Market Trends reports have become a trusted source of insight and analysis covering the global pre-owned helicopter market. The latest report with all its data and valuable analysis can be downloaded via the Aero Asset website. This report includes a conversation with Sarah Fairweather, partner and head of talent at aviation legal firm Jaffa & Co.