Business aircraft brokerage SmartJets is anticipating a strong closeout to 2026, citing sustained high demand and lengthy backlogs for long-range jets. “The business jet market is in full growth, characterized by high transaction volumes and large manufacturer backlogs,” SmartJets maintained.
The broker pointed to a few drivers of this trend, with demand coming from both ultra-high-net-worth individuals and corporate flight departments. This is particularly true in the long-range segment, which is expected to have the fastest growth, SmartJets added.
The company cited Amstat data showing preowned business jet transactions up by 7% year over year in the first half of 2026. This demand is creating a scarcity of select models and is driving up their pricing, it added.
SmartJets president Ben Shirazi noted that in the last year, the company has sold or acquired several Bombardier Globals, including a 7500, along with Gulfstream G550s and Dassault Falcons, including an 8X. “These are fabulous long-range business aircraft only a generation or two older than models currently rolling out of OEM factories,” he said. “The discounts can be very significant, and the value of these aircraft is excellent—but the challenge is finding one. We do not see a reversal of the current trends of decreasing supply and rising prices.”
Another driver is the so-called bonus depreciation provision, enabling buyers to deduct 100% of the aircraft’s cost the year it is placed into service. This tax incentive typically spurs sales in the fourth quarter.
“The business jet market is growing and expected to keep on track for the foreseeable future,” Shirazi said. “What’s remarkable is that growth is being driven by the pinnacle of the market. The demand for new, long-range business aircraft is high, and backlogs are significant. The result is that many buyers are looking at top-tier preowned business aircraft as alternatives.”
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