The aircraft resale market is considered active, but in fact, many aircraft take a much longer time to sell than buyers anticipate. Some are listed for years before being sold, including business jets, turboprops, piston aircraft, and even some commercial aircraft. This pattern is increasingly evident in Australia as well, where aviation continues to play a critical role in regional transport, mining, agriculture, and corporate travel. Even some aircraft that are listed with attractive presentation eventually sell, but not until months have passed. Many other aircraft continue to show up on listings month after month due to a variety of reasons. Buyers searching for planes for sale often notice the same aircraft appearing repeatedly.
Limited Market Liquidity Restricts Transaction Volume
The aircraft resale market is unlike property or motor vehicle markets because the number of active buyers is significantly smaller. Residential homes change hands thousands of times a year in a single city, while aircraft transactions are far fewer. The low level of inventory and low level of trading activity in the aviation resale market are evident in figures provided by JETNET. These figures show that in mid-2025, only 3,117 business aircraft were for sale worldwide, or 6.58% of the active fleet. Just 4% of the global business jet fleet was for sale at the start of 2026. That was far below the 8% to 10% inventory level considered to indicate a balanced market. It can take months for a buyer to evaluate the various options available. Aircraft are often customised to meet specific cabin layouts, performance capabilities, or equipment packages.
Pricing Errors Create Long-Term Listings
The primary reason that an airplane does not sell is that the seller has the price wrong. Owners continue to price their airplanes based on what the airplane sold for in the past as opposed to what buyers are willing to pay in the present. Even as inventory levels remained relatively stable, the average time that medium-sized business jets spent on the market rose from 399 days to 470 days during the second half of 2025, according to JETNET. Industry experience suggests that aircraft that do not sell even after receiving offers between 10% and 20% below the asking price remain unsold due to owners rejecting valuations that better reflect market conditions. Comparable sales data can be hard to come by in this specialised market. Even modest differences between asking price and market value can delay a transaction for months.
Maintenance History Has a Direct Impact on Value
Maintenance records are crucial to attracting serious buyers, and technical reliability influences purchasing decisions more than any other factor. Aviation maintenance research has recorded over 2,100 unplanned maintenance events on fewer than 29,000 monitored flights. Buyers typically conduct thorough reviews of engine overhaul records, scheduled airframe inspections, component replacement history, and documentation of adherence to aviation regulations before finalising a transaction. Aircraft that lack complete logbooks, have unresolved maintenance defects, or are damaged from accidents linger on the market longer because they pose a higher ownership risk. Bringing the plane up to the expected maintenance standard can exceed AUD 100,000. This makes it far less attractive to buy than one that has been well-maintained and has complete records.
Buyer Psychology Encourages Delayed Decisions
Purchasing an aircraft is a major financial commitment, and that tends to produce longer decision times. Aircraft are rarely purchased without extensive technical inspections, legal due diligence, financing reviews, and independent pre-purchase evaluations before buyers are ready to move. Transaction activity increased by nearly 10 per cent in 2025, but available inventory continued to decline. This indicated that buyers were active but becoming more selective. Many buyers prefer to wait and see if maintenance costs, operating expenses, resale potential, or technical condition are less than anticipated rather than incur more financial risk. According to behavioural finance research, loss aversion is a significant factor in high-ticket purchases. Aircraft purchases are particularly susceptible to loss aversion due to the ongoing cost of ownership after the initial purchase.
Financing Conditions Narrow the Buyer Pool
The availability of finance is directly linked to activity in the aircraft resale market. Higher interest rates raise borrowing costs and reduce the number of buyers who can qualify for aircraft loans. Lenders typically demand detailed financial information, independent aircraft valuations, maintenance documentation, and technical assessments before approving finance. When credit conditions tighten, many prospective buyers defer purchases or opt for leasing rather than ownership. Industry statistics suggest that approximately half of the global aircraft fleet is now operated under lease rather than ownership. This percentage is rising as operators seek greater financial flexibility and lower capital commitments.
Aircraft Age and Configuration Influence Demand
Not every aircraft available for sale has the same demand. Older airframes, less common cabin configurations, aircraft with outdated avionics, and aircraft designed for specialised missions command far less interest. Despite overall falling inventory levels, market reports show these aircraft are often listed for extended periods. Buyers continue to prefer newer models with modern technology and lower operating costs. Manufacturers continue to manage significant production backlogs with delivery times for new aircraft often stretching 18 to 24 months. While such delays tend to support values across the used aircraft market, demand continues to focus on late-model aircraft in good condition and ready to enter service with minimal additional investment.
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