IADA says preowned aircraft demand stays strong as dealer confidence rises

The International Aircraft Dealers Association says confidence among accredited aircraft dealers climbed in the third quarter of 2026 as tight inventory, strong buyer demand and long new-aircraft backlogs kept the preowned market firm. Dealers reported more transactions, stronger seller leverage and a generally stable outlook for the next 6 to 12 months.

Why it matters: - The preowned business aircraft market remains tight, which is supporting prices and giving sellers more leverage. - Buyers looking for late-model, well-maintained aircraft are facing limited inventory and stronger competition. - Dealer sentiment matters because IADA members handle aircraft before many listings reach the public market.

What happened: - IADA said confidence among accredited aircraft dealers increased in the third quarter of 2026. - Members rated current business aircraft sales conditions at 3.62 on a five-point scale, up from 3.45 in the second quarter and 3.47 a year earlier. - The report said demand stayed strong for preowned business aircraft, especially late-model aircraft in good condition. - IADA said the report reflects dealer experience across North America, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Africa.

The details: - IADA Accredited Dealers completed 1,155 aircraft transactions in the first nine months of 2026, compared with 983 in the same period of 2025. - Third-quarter transactions totaled 409, up from 367 in the third quarter of 2025. - New acquisition agreements reached 510 in the first nine months of 2026. - Dealer inventory purchases rose to 127 aircraft. - The survey found the strongest seller advantage in almost three years on a scale where 1 favors sellers and 5 favors buyers. - IADA said demand is especially strong for late-model midsize and large-cabin aircraft. - Limited supply of quality inventory continues to strengthen sellers' negotiating positions. - Buyers are paying closer attention to maintenance exposure, aircraft history, equipment, registration and long-term ownership costs. - Well-maintained, competitively priced aircraft are still selling quickly. - Some aircraft are being traded off-market before public listing through IADA member relationships. - About 60% of survey respondents expect prices for preowned Large Jet+ aircraft to increase in the next six months. - Across turboprop, light jet, midsize jet and large jet categories, members generally expect prices to remain stable or rise modestly while inventory stays flat or slips lower. - About 30% of dealers expect to increase their willingness to acquire aircraft for inventory. - The complete Third Quarter 2026 Market Report is available here. - IADA said the report combines monthly transaction data from accredited dealers with its quarterly Perspective Survey. - The survey goes to more than 1,000 IADA members worldwide.

Between the lines: - Strong financial markets, wealth creation, bonus depreciation provisions in the U.S. and long manufacturer backlogs are helping keep demand elevated. - Owners waiting for new aircraft are holding onto existing planes, which keeps used inventory constrained. - The market is becoming more selective, with pricing increasingly tied to condition and configuration. - The dealer community appears to be seeing a split market, where quality aircraft move fast and weaker assets face more resistance.

What's next: - IADA members expect demand to remain strong over the next six months, especially for late-model midsize and large-cabin jets. - The 12-month outlook is generally stable, with sentiment leaning toward improvement rather than softening. - Dealers expect the year-end period to stay active, and some expect conditions to remain tight into 2027 if OEM backlogs persist. - Inventory constraints are likely to continue supporting preowned values unless new-aircraft delivery bottlenecks ease.

The bottom line: - IADA's latest report points to a durable seller-friendly market for preowned business aircraft, with demand still outrunning supply in the most desirable segments.