Business aviation demonstrated continued resilience in the fourth quarter, marked by increased flight operations and strong manufacturer backlogs, according to Global Jet Capital’s latest Business Aviation Market Brief. Flight operations rose 2.4% year over year (YOY) in the quarter, while OEM backlogs reached $48.5 billion—a 7.2% YOY increase.

The report highlights a notable shift in market dynamics, with preowned jet inventory at 7.5% at the end of 2024, up from 6.9% a year earlier but still below the decade’s average of approximately 10%. Availability of younger aircraft tightened further, with 12-year-old and newer aircraft declining from 5.6% to 5% quarter over quarter.

Transaction volumes stabilized throughout 2024, with new-production business jet deliveries increasing 1.7% for the year. Dollar volume showed more substantial growth, rising 12.5%, driven primarily by strong demand for heavy jets. Despite ongoing supply chain and labor constraints, OEMs made progress in addressing production challenges.

Aircraft values demonstrated stability through the quarter, with like-aged aircraft values remaining nearly level year over year, increasing just 0.1%. However, the market showed a distinction between newer and older aircraft. During the quarter, values for aircraft 13 years and older fell 2.9%, while those for younger aircraft rose 1.3%.

Regarding flight operations, the fractional segment remained the strongest performer in 2024. North American flight activity drove the fourth-quarter increase, while Europe, the Middle East, and Africa saw declines.