Aircraft sales: how to sell a business jet, turboprop or helicopter in 2026

The best way to sell a business aircraft is to start before listing: get a realistic valuation based on recent comparable sales, organize complete logbooks and maintenance records, clear liens and operating contracts, then choose a channel, open market, off-market, dealer or trade-in, through one exclusive broker. Agree the pre-buy scope in the LOI, close through an independent escrow agent and complete the registry steps, such as the 30-day sale notice to ANAC's RAB in Brazil. In 2026, young jets sell fastest: JETNET measured 54 days on market for jets up to five years old.

On this page

1. What does aircraft sales mean in business aviation?
2. What does the pre-owned business aircraft market look like in 2026?
3. When is the right time to sell a business aircraft?
4. How is a business aircraft valued and appraised?
5. How do you prepare an aircraft and its records for sale?
6. How do you market an aircraft for sale and choose a broker?
7. How do off-market aircraft sales and confidentiality work?
8. LOI, deposit, escrow and purchase agreement: what should a seller watch for?
9. How does the pre-buy inspection work from the seller's side?
10. How do closing, escrow and delivery work in an aircraft sale?
11. How do you de-register and export an aircraft from the ANAC RAB, the FAA Registry and the International Registry?
12. Cross-border aircraft sales between Brazil, the US and Europe: what changes?
13. How do trade-ins and new-aircraft delivery slots affect an aircraft sale?
14. How does Embarque Oficial support an aircraft sale?
15. Glossary
16. Frequently asked questions

Inventory: historically low, but aging

According to JETNET, the share of the business jet fleet for sale averaged 6.6% in the first half of 2026, down from 7.3% in 2025 and well below the 9% to 12% that was normal between 2014 and 2020. At the same time, 74% of the jets on the market were 16 years old or more, up from 60% in 2019. In plain terms, there are few young jets available, and much of what is listed is older equipment competing for the same buyers.

Pricing: values firm for newer jets, softer for older ones

Average asking prices tell only part of the story. JETNET reported that average asking prices for large jets softened in the twelve months to June 2026, while Amstat found that the median transaction value rose about 5% year over year in the second quarter of 2026, because younger, higher-value jets sold quickly and older models sat unsold. Amstat summarized the second quarter as a seller's market at the top. In October 2026, Amstat reported that heavy-jet resale values increased markedly in the third quarter, while midsize jets, light jets and turboprops saw softer activity.

Days on market and dealer sentiment

JETNET measured an average of 98 days on market for pre-owned jets, but the gap by age is wide: 54 days for jets up to five years old against 128 days for jets 26 years or older in the first half of 2026. IADA's third-quarter 2026 survey put its buyer-seller index at 2.65, down from 3.16 a year earlier, which IADA described as the strongest seller advantage in nearly three years; about 60% of respondents expected large-cabin prices to rise over the next six months, while some dealers anticipate a slowdown in 2027.

New-aircraft forecasts

Honeywell's 2026 Global Business Aviation Outlook, released in October 2026, forecasts 9,950 new business jet deliveries worldwide from 2026 through 2035. New deliveries matter to sellers because many pre-owned aircraft come to market only when their owners take delivery of a new one. Amstat expects new-aircraft supply to remain constrained by manufacturer production challenges through 2027 at best, which keeps demand for late-model pre-owned jets strong. For the broader picture of the industry, see our page on private aviation.

An aircraft is worth what a qualified buyer will pay for it, at a given moment, after inspection. Valuation is the work of estimating that number before the market tests it. A realistic valuation is the seller's most powerful tool: an aircraft listed far above the market loses months and credibility, and price reductions are visible to every dealer who tracks listings.

The three appraisal approaches

Desktop appraisal versus physical appraisal

A desktop appraisal relies on the aircraft's specifications, records summary and market data without inspecting the aircraft. It is quick and useful to set an asking price or to support financing. A physical appraisal adds an on-site review of the aircraft and its logbooks, so it captures condition, damage history and the real state of the interior and paint. Lenders, courts and insurers often require a physical appraisal by an independent appraiser who follows recognized professional standards.

Value references used by the market

Professionals combine several sources: transaction and listing data from JETNET and Amstat, published value guides such as the Aircraft Bluebook and Vref, dealer surveys and their own recent deals. None of these is a price list. Each reports averages that must be adjusted to a specific serial number.

What moves the value of a specific aircraft

• Airframe total time and cycles compared with the fleet average for the year of manufacture.
• Maintenance status: time remaining to the next heavy check, engine overhaul or hot-section inspection.
• Engine and APU program enrollment and whether the coverage transfers to the buyer.
• Damage history: any significant repair must be disclosed and documented; poorly documented repairs can cut value sharply.
• Avionics and compliance: upgrades, connectivity, and compliance with airspace mandates in the regions where buyers fly.
• Interior and paint: age, condition and layout; a dated interior is a negotiation point, not a deal breaker.
• Registry and operating history: country of registration, charter use, number of owners and continuity of records.

The data above show why age matters in 2026: JETNET reports that a five-year-old jet sells in about half the time of a jet older than 25. For an independent second opinion on the numbers, Embarque Oficial can coordinate valuation and aviation due diligence (in Portuguese) before the aircraft is listed.

Once a buyer is interested, the transaction moves through a sequence of documents. Each one shifts risk between the parties, and a seller who understands them can protect both the price and the timetable.

Letter of intent (LOI)

The letter of intent sets the main business terms: price, deposit, inspection facility and scope, timetable, delivery location, and the conditions for technical acceptance. Most of an LOI is non-binding, but confidentiality, exclusivity and deposit clauses are often binding. From the seller's side, the key points are a short and defined exclusivity period, a firm inspection date, and a clear limit on the scope of the pre-buy inspection.

Deposit and escrow

The buyer usually places a deposit with an independent escrow agent when the LOI or the purchase agreement is signed. Escrow agents, many of them located in Oklahoma City close to the FAA Aircraft Registry, hold the funds and the closing documents and release them only when both parties' conditions are met. The seller should understand when the deposit becomes non-refundable, typically at technical acceptance, because before that point the buyer can usually walk away.

Aircraft purchase agreement (APA)

The APA is the binding contract. Points that deserve particular attention from the seller include:

• Condition at delivery: usually airworthy, with all systems operating, no damage history beyond what was disclosed, and records complete.
• Discrepancy allocation: in many agreements the seller corrects airworthiness discrepancies and the parties negotiate cosmetic and non-airworthiness items.
• Caps and termination rights: a cap on the seller's correction cost, with a right to terminate if the cap is exceeded.
• "As is, where is" language: the disclaimer of warranties beyond title, which limits the seller's liability after delivery.
• Title warranty: the seller warrants good title free of liens; this is the one warranty a buyer will always require.
• Taxes and costs: who bears transfer taxes, positioning flights, fuel, crew and inspection costs.
• Governing law and jurisdiction, especially in a cross-border deal.

In Brazil, the contract is also the basis for the transfer of ownership in the RAB, and the seller has a separate notification duty described in the closing section below. Payment structures that involve a lender should be aligned early with the buyer's financing institution. For financing options in Brazil, see our aircraft financing service (in Portuguese). The buyer's side of these documents is covered in depth in the acquisition guide.

Closing is the moment when, at the same time, the buyer's funds are released to the seller and title passes to the buyer. In a well-run transaction, closing is coordinated by the escrow agent and the parties' lawyers so that payment, registration filings and the physical delivery of the aircraft happen in a single, controlled sequence.

A typical closing sequence

1. The escrow agent confirms that the full purchase price and any lender funds are on deposit.
2. Lien releases and consents are in hand, and any international interest to be discharged is ready to be removed from the International Registry.
3. The aircraft is at the agreed delivery location, in the agreed condition.
4. The parties authorize closing; the escrow agent files or releases the bill of sale and registration documents and registers the contract of sale with the International Registry when applicable.
5. Funds are wired to the seller and to any lender being paid off.
6. The seller signs a delivery receipt, and the aircraft, its records and loose equipment are handed over.

Delivery location

The delivery location affects taxes, insurance and the logistics of the buyer's first flight. In the United States, sales and use tax depends on the state where the aircraft is delivered and based, and some states provide exemptions for aircraft that leave the state shortly after the sale. In Europe, value added tax may depend on where the supply takes place and where the aircraft is imported. The parties normally choose the delivery location with their tax advisers before signing the APA.

Seller obligations after the sale in Brazil

For aircraft on the Brazilian register, ANAC requires the seller to notify the RAB of the sale within 30 days, counted from the last notarized signature, through the RAB Digital system. The service is free and requires a gov.br account at Silver or Gold level. The notification can be signed by the seller alone if accompanied by a copy of the transfer document signed by both parties. If the aircraft was under a lease or operating arrangement, the termination or the operator's consent must be provided. Completing this step promptly is how the seller shows the registry that the aircraft is no longer under its ownership.

Typical timeline

These durations are indicative, not promises: cross-border sales and aircraft with complex title or lien histories take longer.

Brazil, the United States and Europe are connected markets. Brazilian owners sell aircraft to US and European buyers, and Brazilian buyers import pre-owned aircraft, mostly from the US market, which is the world's largest. A cross-border aircraft sale adds three layers to a domestic transaction: the change of register, the import formalities and taxes in the destination country, and the tax position of the seller in its own country. What follows is a high-level overview, not legal or tax advice.

Selling a Brazilian aircraft abroad

• Registry: cancellation of the Brazilian registration and issue of the de-registration certificate, as described above.
• Customs: a physical export of the aircraft from Brazil must follow Brazilian customs procedures; an aircraft that entered Brazil under a special customs regime, such as temporary admission, must have that regime properly closed.
• Exchange and payment: receiving foreign currency involves foreign exchange rules and the bank's compliance checks, so the seller's bank should be involved before closing.
• Seller's taxes: in Brazil, individuals generally pay capital gains tax on a profitable sale at progressive rates of 15% to 22.5%, and companies follow their corporate tax regime. Your accountant should confirm the treatment for your structure.

Selling into Brazil

A Brazilian buyer importing an aircraft faces federal taxes and state ICMS, with rates and reductions that depend on the aircraft's classification, use and customs regime, plus ANAC registration and airworthiness steps. A seller abroad benefits from understanding these steps because they affect the buyer's timetable and the delivery location. The buyer's perspective is covered in the aircraft acquisition guide.

Selling in or to the United States

US transactions are governed largely by state law and the FAA registry. Sales and use tax depends on the state of delivery and basing. Federal tax matters, such as depreciation recapture on a sale and the bonus depreciation available to US buyers, shape both price and timing. Since 2018, like-kind exchanges are limited to real property, so a US seller can no longer defer gain by trading one aircraft for another under that rule.

Selling in or to Europe

An aircraft entering the European Union for private use is generally subject to import VAT in the member state of import, at that state's rate; specific exemptions exist for aircraft used by operators under defined conditions. The United Kingdom applies its own regime since leaving the EU. European buyers often choose registers such as Malta (9H), the Isle of Man (M) or San Marino (T7), as well as national registers like France (F) or Germany (D), based on tax, finance and operational factors.

Practical points for a cross-border sale

1. Agree the governing law, currency and delivery location in the LOI.
2. Check that the aircraft meets the destination country's airworthiness and equipment requirements.
3. Coordinate the export certificate, de-registration and new registration with the buyer's team.
4. Plan the ferry flight, crew and permits for the delivery leg.

Embarque Oficial organizes long-range intercontinental flights (in Portuguese) and coordinates operators in each country, which helps when an aircraft and its new owners must be positioned between continents. See also global air mobility.

Embarque Oficial is a global executive aviation company founded in 2011 and headquartered in Florianópolis, Brazil, with offices in Monaco, Dubai, London, Paris, Liverpool, Fort Lauderdale, New York, Las Vegas, Shanghai and Brazil. The company serves clients worldwide, from Monaco, Dubai, Capri and Rome to every region of Brazil. Its offices do not serve the public on a walk-in basis: owners are served online, by WhatsApp on +55 48 98877-0541, and in person at the aircraft, in hangars, airports, FBOs and heliports.

What the sale support covers

• Exit strategy: whether to sell now, after a maintenance event, through a trade-in or off-market, based on the aircraft and the owner's plans.
• Valuation coordination: market data review and independent appraisal when required.
• Records and title preparation: organizing logbooks and identifying liens, leases and international interests.
• Confidential marketing: discreet presentation to qualified buyers and coordination with brokers and dealers.
• Transaction coordination: LOI, pre-buy logistics, escrow, closing and delivery, with independent lawyers, inspectors and tax advisers chosen by the client.
• Registry steps: support with the RAB, FAA and International Registry formalities through the appropriate specialists.
• Transition lift: flights with certified operators while the owner is between aircraft.

How Embarque Oficial positions itself

Embarque Oficial does not present itself as an aircraft owner or as a substitute for lawyers, tax advisers or authorized maintenance organizations. Flights are organized with operators certified by ANAC in Brazil and by the aviation authority of each country abroad, such as the FAA or EASA. For more than ten years the company has also organized special operations, including air ambulance and aeromedical transport, urgent and high-value cargo, aerial filming and photography, and secure transport of officials, always with authorized operators.

To start a conversation about selling your aircraft, use the contact page or the purchase and sale service (both in Portuguese). Before listing, it can also help to compare your model with similar aircraft on our technical profiles, such as the Challenger 3500 or the Praetor 500.