Despite geopolitical and economic uncertainty, the business jet market remained healthy during Q3 2026. Rising flight activity, strong demand for new aircraft, tight aircraft availability, and appreciating values place the industry in a solid position for a strong finish to the year.
- GDP rose 2.4 percent during the quarter, reflecting a growing economy that remained resilient despite geopolitical conflict, supporting business jet demand.
- Business jet departures continued to grow, with North America being the fastest-growing region and fractional operators being the fastest-growing market segment.
- OEM backlogs reached $62.9 billion in Q3 2026, up 23 percent year over year, as strong demand persisted and the industry-wide book-to-bill ratio remained above 1-to-1.
- Reported year-to-date transaction volume declined, but this appears to be due to reporting delays and difficult prior-year comparisons.
- Aircraft available for purchase remained tight, especially newer aircraft, although overall availability rose slightly from Q2. A decline in new listings coupled with continued strong demand kept availability below historical averages.
- Average bluebook values for like-aged aircraft increased 6.6 percent on a year-over-year basis, although variance was observed across segments and models.
