IADA’s Q2 2026 market report shows preowned business aircraft transactions rose 21% year-on-year to 746 in the first half of 2026. Dealer inventory purchases jumped 87%, while price reductions hit a record low. IADA’s Lou Seno says tight inventory is shifting negotiating leverage toward sellers.
The International Aircraft Dealers Association (IADA) has published its second quarter 2026 market report, showing closed private business aircraft transactions rose 21% year-on-year to 746 during the first six months of the year.
The Los Angeles-based association’s report attributes the increase to strong buyer demand, historically tight inventory and continued confidence among dealers and brokers, despite ongoing supply constraints.
According to Lou Seno, executive director at IADA, “The first half of 2026 demonstrates that the preowned business aircraft market continues to perform remarkably well. Demand remains healthy, transaction activity is even running ahead of last year and our members continue to express confidence in the market despite ongoing global uncertainties.”
IADA-accredited dealers reported 536 aircraft placed under acquisition agreements during the first half of 2026, an 8% increase on the same period the previous year. Dealers also purchased 118 aircraft into inventory, an 87% increase year-on-year and twice the figure recorded in the first half of 2024.
Dealers signed 238 exclusive retainer agreements to sell aircraft during the second quarter, a pace the association says has remained largely consistent over the past seven quarters. Price reductions fell to 67 during the first half of 2026, an 11% decline on the prior year and the lowest figure since IADA began tracking the metric in 2023.
Seno said limited availability of aircraft was shifting negotiating leverage toward sellers. “Limited availability of high-quality aircraft is supporting valuations and shifting negotiating leverage toward sellers. In a market where opportunities often require quick decisions and expert guidance, IADA Accredited Dealers and Certified Brokers provide buyers and sellers with the experience, transparency and trusted relationships needed to achieve successful outcomes.”
The report identifies tight inventory of younger, well-equipped aircraft as the defining feature of the current market, citing lengthy original equipment manufacturer (OEM) delivery backlogs, continued implementation of 100% US bonus depreciation, financing conditions and equity market performance as contributing factors. Inventory of high-quality preowned aircraft remains tight across most categories, particularly newer midsize and large-cabin aircraft, according to the report.
IADA members rated current market conditions at 3.45 on a five-point scale, broadly unchanged from 3.55 in the first quarter but up substantially from 3.07 in the second quarter of 2025. Respondents cited US bonus depreciation, healthy equity markets, long new-aircraft lead times and financing conditions as supporting factors, while flagging geopolitical uncertainty, tariffs, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capacity limitations and supply chain challenges as headwinds.
The association’s buyer-seller index fell to 2.74, its lowest reading in two and a half years, which IADA says reflects a gradual shift in negotiating leverage toward sellers over the past 12 months.
Looking ahead, survey respondents expect pricing to remain stable to modestly higher over the next six months, particularly in larger aircraft categories, with nearly two-thirds anticipating further price increases in the Large Jet+ segment. Around 30% of respondents said they expect to increase their willingness to purchase aircraft for inventory over the coming six months. Demand expectations measured 3.43, close to the 3.42 recorded a year earlier, while the association’s 12-month outlook points to a stable market with improving conditions.
The IADA Market Report combines monthly transaction data from accredited dealers with the association’s quarterly Perspective Survey, distributed to more than 1,000 members worldwide. In the second quarter, 97% of accredited dealers took part in monthly activity reporting.
