Business Aviation
Bombardier Reports Stability in Pre-Owned Business Jet Market 2026
Bombardier’s 2026 report shows stable pricing, tight inventory, and rising transactions in the pre-owned business jet market with younger buyers increasing.
The pre-owned business jet market has officially transitioned from its pandemic-era volatility into a phase of measured stability and resilience as we move through 2026. According to the latest Pre-owned Market Report published by Bombardier, the industry is currently characterized by tight inventories for late-model jets, stabilized pricing, and near-record transaction volumes. We have reviewed the manufacturer’s proprietary data, alongside broader industry metrics, to understand the forces shaping the secondary market.
Driven by multi-year waitlists for new aircraft, favorable tax policies, and a surge of younger buyers, the pre-owned sector is demonstrating robust health. Bombardier’s report serves as a critical intelligence tool in this environment, leveraging the manufacturer’s exclusive fleet data to guide buyers and sellers navigating the Learjet, Challenger, and Global platforms.
Following the historical highs recorded between 2021 and 2023, pricing within the pre-owned sector has stabilized. Industry data indicates that average asking prices have decreased by approximately 10%, creating a healthier, more balanced environment for buyers without triggering a market crash. Despite this pricing normalization, pre-owned inventory remains exceptionally scarce.
According to Bombardier’s market intelligence, available pre-owned jets represented only about 5.0% to 6.7% of the active global fleet by the end of 2025. This figure sits well below the historical benchmark for a “balanced market,” which typically ranges from 8% to 10%. The constraint is even more pronounced in the ultra-long-range segment; inventory for Bombardier’s Global models fell to just 4.9% at the close of 2025.
“Prices have really come back to a healthy stabilization. They have come down about 10% across the board from the highs of 2021 to 2023.”
The fourth quarter of 2025 witnessed a massive spike in market activity. Pre-owned transaction volumes increased by over 68% compared to the third quarter of 2025. This late-year surge propelled 2025 to become the second-highest year for transaction totals on record, finishing just 1% shy of the all-time high set in 2021. Furthermore, the absorption rate, the time it takes to sell an aircraft, dropped precipitously from 9.7 months in Q3 2025 to just 5.0 months in Q4 2025.
“Higher fourth-quarter activity reflected a healthy, disciplined market supported by bonus depreciation, improving interest rates and tight inventories.”
The demographic profile of the private jet buyer is undergoing a significant transformation. Buyers under the age of 45 now account for 29% of pre-owned transactions, a figure that has nearly doubled over the past decade. This shift is heavily driven by new wealth generated within the technology, artificial intelligence, and finance sectors, bringing a wave of younger principals into the multi-million dollar asset class.
Several macroeconomic tailwinds have supported this sustained demand. The return of 100% bonus depreciation in the United States in 2025 acted as a massive catalyst, pulling many buyers forward to close deals before the end of the year and heavily skewing the market toward U.S. buyers. Additionally, global flight activity, a leading indicator of jet sales, remains robust. Global business jet movements in 2025 were 5% higher than in 2024, recording a record-breaking 3.9 million departures. Looking ahead, the market value forecast remains exceptionally strong. According to Jetcraft’s 2025 report, the industry is projected to see 11,202 pre-owned transactions between 2025 and 2029, representing a staggering $73.9 billion in total value.
To capitalize on the booming secondary market, Bombardier launched its Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) program in 2021. The manufacturer selects premium pre-owned aircraft and updates them with refurbished interiors, fresh paint, upgraded avionics, and a one-year OEM warranty. This initiative has successfully established a new, premium category in the industry, officially recognized by appraisal authorities such as Aircraft Bluebook and Vref as distinct from standard pre-owned jets.
“As the OEM, we are uniquely positioned to provide them with a best-in-class, turn-key certified aircraft solution – a new and exciting category.”
We observe that the current dynamics of the pre-owned market are heavily influenced by the “trickle-down” effect of Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) backlogs. Major manufacturers, including Bombardier, Gulfstream, and Dassault, are currently sitting on historically strong order backlogs estimated at $45 billion to $50 billion. Because new aircraft delivery slots are effectively sold out into 2027 and 2028, buyers requiring immediate lift are forced into the pre-owned market. This dynamic is keeping demand and residual values for late-model used jets exceptionally high.
Bombardier is brilliantly playing both sides of the board. By publishing their own Pre-owned Market Report and operating a robust CPO program, they are actively controlling the narrative and maintaining the residual value of their aircraft. Furthermore, their focus on large-cabin jets, such as the Global 7500 and the newly certified Global 8000, insulates them from minor market dips, allowing them to generate significant revenue from the secondary market even while their new-jet supply chain remains constrained.
Sources:
Introduction to a Maturing Market
Market Normalization and Inventory Constraints
Pricing and Availability
Transaction Volume Surge
Demographic Shifts and Industry Drivers
The Youth Movement in Aviation
Macroeconomic and OEM Factors
Bombardier’s Strategic Positioning
The Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) Advantage
AirPro News analysis
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
By the end of 2025, available pre-owned jets represented only about 5.0% to 6.7% of the active global fleet, well below the historical balanced market benchmark of 8% to 10%.
Average asking prices have stabilized, coming down approximately 10% from the historical highs seen between 2021 and 2023.
There is a notable demographic shift, with buyers under the age of 45 now accounting for 29% of pre-owned transactions, largely driven by wealth in the tech and AI sectors.
Bombardier Pre-owned Market Report
Jetcraft 2025 Market Forecast
International Aircraft Dealers Association (IADA)
Central Business Jets
Photo Credit: Bombardier