Closed transactions in the global preowned business aircraft market reached 746 during the first half of 2026, up 21 per cent year on year, according to the International Aircraft Dealers Association's (IADA) Second Quarter 2026 Market Report. The figures point to a marketplace still driven by strong buyer demand and persistently tight inventory.

IADA Accredited Dealers placed 536 aircraft under acquisition agreements in the first half, an 8 per cent increase on the same period last year. Dealers also purchased 118 aircraft into inventory, an 87 per cent rise year on year and twice the total recorded in the first half of 2024. Exclusive retainer agreements to sell aircraft totalled 238 during the second quarter, a pace largely unchanged over the past seven quarters. Price reductions fell to 67, an 11 per cent decline on the prior year and the fewest since IADA began tracking the metric in 2023.

Lou Seno, executive director of IADA, says: “Demand remains healthy, transaction activity is running ahead of last year and our members continue to express confidence in the market despite ongoing global uncertainties.” He adds: “Limited availability of high-quality aircraft is supporting valuations and shifting negotiating leverage toward sellers.”

Inventories of newer midsize and large-cabin aircraft remain historically tight, sustained by lengthy OEM delivery backlogs, continued 100 per cent US bonus depreciation and acceptable financing conditions. IADA's buyer-seller index, which tracks negotiating leverage, fell to 2.74, its lowest reading in two and a half years, while members rated the current sales market at 3.45 out of five, broadly steady on the first quarter's 3.55 and well ahead of 3.07 a year earlier. Nearly two-thirds of respondents expect further price increases in the large jet segment, and around 30 per cent anticipate increasing their own inventory purchases over the next six months. The association's 12-month outlook continues to point toward a stable market with improving conditions. The quarterly survey drew responses from more than 1,000 IADA members, with 97 per cent of Accredited Dealers participating in monthly activity reporting.