In this episode of The Truth About the Market, Jason breaks down the Q2 2026 market numbers and explains why the aircraft market has fully unwound from the extraordinary conditions of 2021 and 2022.
In this episode, we cover:
Why April 2026 transaction volume is one of the weakest April readings of the last decade
How current closings compare to 2025, 2024, and the extraordinary post-COVID market of 2022
Why transaction volume tells more truth than listings, asking prices, or scraped internet data
Why the post-COVID market has fully unwound
How buyers have become more disciplined and less willing to chase aircraft just because inventory exists
Why capital markets are underwriting risk again
How lenders are scrutinizing assets more closely before approving deals
Why light jets remain resilient even as transaction volume pulls back
How light jets are benefiting from buyers moving away from twin turboprops and twin piston aircraft
Why efficient lift still matters in a more disciplined market
Why elevated asking prices in light jets do not tell the whole story
Why the super midsize market deserves serious attention
How super midsize aircraft have seen some of the most meaningful pricing pressure in the market
Why super mids sit at the intersection of financing sensitivity, affordability, and capital discipline
Why large cabin aircraft remain highly selective due to narrower buyer pools and enormous capital commitments
How turboprops remain strong utility aircraft, even as inventory rises and selling cycles lengthen
Why piston aircraft remain historically strong, even as transaction activity softens
How total business jet and turboprop inventory has recovered from post-COVID lows but remains below pre-pandemic levels
Why today’s market is defined by slower transactions, selective buyers, longer decision cycles, and disciplined capital
Why aircraft no longer sell simply because they exist
Why buyers are evaluating maintenance exposure, residual value risk, and mission fit more carefully
Why social media narratives around “off-market aircraft” often exaggerate scarcity
Why many so-called off-market opportunities are really just manufactured exclusivity
How cash buyers are gaining leverage as lenders require larger down payments
Why some aircraft now require 25, 30, or even 40 percent down
How the Iran conflict and fuel shock are changing operating assumptions
Why fuel prices may become one of the defining aviation topics of 2026
How higher fuel, parts, logistics, maintenance, training, and charter costs compound across ownership
Why operating economics are now central to aircraft acquisition decisions
Why aircraft values are returning to traditional depreciation curves in many categories
How legacy aircraft, Hawkers, CJ-series aircraft, and older vintage categories continue facing pressure
Why current production aircraft from Gulfstream, Bombardier, and Embraer remain comparatively strong
Why the piston market continues to hold up better than many expect
Why summer seasonality could deepen the slowdown into Q3
For accurate, defensible aircraft valuations trusted by lenders, insurers, and aviation professionals worldwide, subscribe to VREF Online.
Podden och tillhörande omslagsbild på den här sidan tillhör
Jason Zilberbrand. Innehållet i podden är skapat av Jason Zilberbrand och inte av,
eller tillsammans med, Poddtoppen.
