Aircraft
GAMA: General Aviation Market Up and Down in Q1
Business jets and high-end turboprops soared, while helicopters stalled
Embraer Praetor 500
Embraer Praetor 500

Business jet deliveries rose by nearly 15% year over year (YOY) in the first quarter, to 162 units, while airplane billings rose by $1 billion to $6.1 billion—a 19% increase—according to the just-released first-quarter 2026 delivery report from the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA).

Nearly all of the major business jet manufacturers saw improvement from the first quarter of 2025. Among the top five airframers in the segment, Embraer saw the largest growth for the first three months of the year; the Brazil-based manufacturer’s effort to level out its yearly production operations continues to bear fruit. The company handed over six more midsize Praetor 500s in the quarter than it did a year ago, which contributed to a 26% increase in deliveries.

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