Pre-Owned Jet Inventory Shortage Persists, Pressuring Prices

Event summary

  • Pre-owned jet inventory remains 7.73% lower year-over-year as of April 2026, with large jets seeing the steepest decline (21.7% Y/Y).
  • Asking prices for used jets rose 3.32% month-over-month but fell 1.15% year-over-year.
  • Other aircraft categories show mixed trends: piston-single inventory down 17.63% Y/Y, turboprops down 7.89% Y/Y, while Robinson helicopters inventory up 25.29% Y/Y.
  • Sandhills Global attributes the inventory shortage to sustained low supply despite modest monthly upticks.

The big picture

The aviation market continues to grapple with supply chain disruptions and shifting demand patterns post-COVID. Sandhills Global's data suggests that the pre-owned jet segment, in particular, is experiencing a structural imbalance between supply and demand, which could lead to further price volatility. The broader trend of lower inventory levels across multiple aircraft categories indicates a potential tightening of the used aircraft market, with implications for both buyers and sellers.

What we're watching

Supply Constraints
Whether the persistent inventory shortage will lead to sustained price increases in the pre-owned jet market.
Pricing Dynamics
How asking price trends will evolve as inventory levels remain below pre-COVID levels.
Market Segmentation
The pace at which different aircraft categories (jets, turboprops, piston-singles, helicopters) will realign with historical inventory and pricing trends.

Related topics

Aviation