📉 Large Pre-Owned Business Jet Inventory Drops 40%, Ultra-Long-Range Active Fleet Shrinks
Pre-owned inventory of large business jets continues to dry up, but this has not translated into in-service fleet expansion; instead, it has been accompanied by a slight contraction in the active count of ultra-long-range models. According to a July 7 report from AIN, the for-sale pre-owned inventory of large business jets fell approximately 40% year-over-year, with overall pre-owned inventory dropping to about 1,041 aircraft, representing only about 4% of the fleet—far below the historical average of 8.2%. Avi-Go data shows that three ultra-long-range models saw their active fleets contract in tandem from the start of 2026 to date: the Global 6000 fell to 363 aircraft (down 2.7% year-over-year), the G650 fell to 208 aircraft (down 9.6% year-over-year, the largest decline, partly perhaps due to migration to the G650ER/G700), and the Falcon 8X stood at 107 aircraft (down 1.8% year-over-year); the three models together totaled 678 aircraft, down 4.8% from 712 aircraft in the same period of 2025.
Impact: Supply tightness is being transmitted to new aircraft orders. Bombardier has secured an order from Vista for up to 160 Challenger 3500s (nearly $5 billion), Dassault's new orders in 2025 rebounded to 31 aircraft, and the Falcon 10X waiting list exceeds 3,300 customers; sellers in the pre-owned market are gaining pricing power, while the available inventory for buyers narrows further.
Recommendation: Operators with plans to replace or retire ultra-long-range models should lock in their listing window before the end of the third quarter of 2026 to capture the premium opportunity amid low inventory levels; buyers with new aircraft needs should assess delivery schedules for in-production models such as the G700/Global 8000 as soon as possible to avoid further lengthening of the waiting list.