There has been a surge in preowned business aircraft transactions driven by robust year-end demand, favourable tax conditions and improving access to financing - reports The International Aircraft Dealers Association in its Fourth Quarter 2025 Market Report.

Verified dealer-reported data and the IADA Member Perspective Survey showed that market sentiment and activity peaked in the final quarter of 2025, marking the year’s strongest performance and the fourth consecutive annual rise in overall transaction volume.

“Despite early-year uncertainty, IADA members delivered strong results throughout 2025 and closed the year with solid momentum,” says John Odegard, chair of IADA and co-founder and partner of 5X5 Trading.

“Higher fourth-quarter activity reflected a healthy, disciplined market supported by bonus depreciation, improving interest rates and tight inventories,” he adds. “Our members remain confident in the core fundamentals of the business aviation marketplace.”

Dealers closed 1,630 aircraft sales in 2025. Q4 saw 173 new acquisition agreements, up 33% on the same period in 2024. Full-year acquisition agreements rose 9%.

Sell-side exclusive retainers dropped 15% quarter-on-quarter and 11% year-on-year, with 807 total signed in 2025 compared to 1,176 in 2024. Fewer discounted sales and fewer failed deals were reported than at any time since 2022.

Sales took an average of 155 days to close in H2 2025, outperforming the industry average by 19%. The market conditions index rose to 3.72 out of 5, reflecting stronger confidence among dealers and service providers alike.

Late-model, programme-enrolled jets remained in demand while signs of softening appeared in turboprop and light jet segments. Most respondents anticipate stable or slightly declining pricing and continued dealer confidence into mid-2026.