State Of The Preowned Business Jet Market—Is Now A Good Time To Buy Or Sell An Airplane?

May 2025

Purchasing or selling a business aircraft can be a complex undertaking requiring expertise to ensure a maximum return on investment. From finding the make/model that best fits your mission to the negotiation process and other variables, there is a lot to consider. Often, the question becomes, “Is now the right time to buy or sell my aircraft?” 

What trends are the Duncan Aviation Aircraft Sales & Acquisitions team members seeing right now? 

Longtime Duncan Aviation Aircraft Sales & Acquisitions team member Doug Roth says that prices seem stable, with a slight decline related to typical depreciation. Interest in purchasing is higher than average. Doug said he is busier than he has ever been with signed acquisition agreements and is receiving good inquiry activity on the aircraft he has listed for sale. 

Duncan Aviation EMEA Aircraft Sales & Acquisitions Tim Barber says that is not an easy question to answer without referencing tariffs. 

“Tariffs have created a bit of chaos in the stock markets and beyond,” he said. “With the ebbs and flows of the stock market, consumers feel worse off, and this impacts business and their owners. So, the underlying sentiment is one of negativity. Whilst this won’t necessarily be felt in the same way by the super-wealthy, it’s not unusual for aircraft sales and purchases to be put on hold in times of uncertainty.” 

Tim said he had heard of a European Global sale falling through because the buyer was in the US and wasn’t sure whether tariffs would apply on a pre-owned aircraft. 

“There are still a lot of questions to be answered, and the fact that the criteria change fairly swiftly creates even more uncertainty,” Tim said. “It’s too early to tell whether there will be a material impact in the medium term.” 

On the topic of tariffs, Doug clarified that tariffs don’t affect aircraft being sold from US sellers to US buyers. And the same goes for transactions that occur outside the US. 

Buy, sell, or sit tight? 

Doug says the market doesn’t favor either buyer or seller, so it’s an ok time to buy or sell. 

Tim further clarified that with the right advice, it’s always a good time to buy or sell a jet because it’s impossible for someone to predict whether aircraft values are rising or falling with any accuracy. 

“With this in mind, if you are a buyer, you can always hold on and hope for values to fall, but whilst you are doing this, you’re not gaining the benefit from ownership,” Tim explained. “If you’re a seller, don’t hold out in anticipation of another boom akin to the post-pandemic bubble because it’s unlikely to be anytime soon.” 

Duncan Aviation Aircraft Sales & Acquisitions Market Research Analyst Meghan Knott said that whether to buy, sell, or sit tight depends on your goals. Sellers with clean, well-equipped aircraft can still capture strong values, but rising inventory may start to apply pressure. Buyers are seeing more options and negotiating room, especially in light and midsize jets, making now a good time to act if you're ready. If you're unsure, it's smart to sit tight and watch how tariffs and policy shifts unfold over the coming months.  

At the end of the day, it’s vital to properly determine the value of the aircraft you are going to buy as it compares to others for sale, and to have a thorough pre-purchase evaluation to make sure the aircraft's equipment and maintenance status meet expectations. The same goes for the seller—make sure your sales team properly evaluates your aircraft to determine its value compared to others on the market.  Accurate market data will empower you to make informed decisions, whether you are purchasing or selling an aircraft asset. 

Aircraft transactions are complex even in the best of times. Add economic uncertainty and constantly evolving trade rules, and the process becomes even more challenging. That’s why having a trusted team by your side with extensive international import and export experience, experience with complex issues related to cross-border transactions, and on-staff specialists focused on the rapidly changing international trade environment is essential.

With decades of experience, market insight, and an extensive network of resources, the Duncan Aviation Aircraft Sales & Acquisitions team is here to guide you—whether you're buying, selling, or simply exploring your options.