Pre-Owned Aircraft Inventory Tightens as Prices Continue Downward Slide

Event summary

  • Pre-owned aircraft inventory levels decreased by more than 10% year over year in February 2026 across jet, piston-single, and turboprop categories.
  • Asking prices for used jets and turboprop aircraft continued their downward trend, while piston-single aircraft prices remained stable.
  • Large jet inventory saw the most significant decline, down 21.1% year over year.
  • Robinson piston helicopters were the exception, with inventory levels increasing 7% year over year.

The big picture

The tightening of pre-owned aircraft inventory levels reflects broader market dynamics where supply constraints are meeting steady demand. This trend is particularly notable in the large jet category, where inventory has seen the most significant declines. The downward pressure on asking prices suggests a potential shift in market power from sellers to buyers, which could have implications for fleet operators and investors in the aviation sector.

What we're watching

Inventory Trends
How the continued decline in pre-owned aircraft inventory will impact market liquidity and pricing power.
Price Pressures
Whether the downward trend in asking prices for used jets and turboprop aircraft will persist or stabilize.
Market Segmentation
The pace at which different aircraft categories (large jets, mid jets, turboprops) will diverge in inventory and pricing trends.

Related topics

Aviation