Selling a private jet in 2026 usually takes about three months once the aircraft is listed: JETNET’s mid-2026 Market Barometer puts average days on market at 98 for pre-owned business jets, with jets up to five years old selling in about 54 days and aircraft 26 years and older taking around 128. Sellers who get a defensible valuation, clean records and a clear inspection plan in place before listing are the ones who land at the short end of that range.
This guide walks through the sale from an owner’s side: what the market looks like right now, how value is set, what to prepare, how remarketing works, and how to time the sale so ownership costs don’t eat into proceeds.
Supply is tight, which generally favors sellers of well-documented, younger aircraft. Two independent data sets agree on the direction:
The practical read: inventory is low enough that a good aircraft will find a buyer, but asking prices have started to soften in the large-cabin segment. Pricing to the market on day one matters more than it did in 2022–2023.
Buyers and their brokers will benchmark your aircraft against recent comparable sales, so your number has to survive the same scrutiny.
Start with a professional appraisal. An appraiser or experienced broker will use market databases (JETNET, AMSTAT, Aircraft Bluebook or VREF) to find comparable serial numbers and adjust for hours, cycles, inspection status, engine program enrollment, avionics and interior condition.
Know the value drivers. The biggest adjustments typically come from:
Separate asking price from walk-away price. Decide in advance what inspection discrepancy allowance you are willing to absorb, because the pre-purchase inspection almost always produces a negotiation.
Records are the product as much as the airframe. Missing logbook entries or unclear damage history can cut value or kill a deal at inspection.
Audit the logbooks. Confirm continuous airframe, engine and APU records, Airworthiness Directive and Service Bulletin status, and component times. Fix gaps before a buyer finds them.
Decide on upcoming maintenance. If a major inspection is close, compare the cost of completing it against the discount a buyer will demand for doing it themselves. Your manager or maintenance provider can price both paths.
Build a data room. Scanned logbooks, specification sheet, equipment list, maintenance tracking reports, program enrollment documents, damage history statement and recent photos, shared only with qualified buyers under NDA.
Settle program transfers. Confirm whether engine, APU and avionics programs, warranties and connectivity contracts transfer, and at what cost.
There are three common routes, and the right one depends on how fast you need to sell and how much of the process you want to manage.
| Route | How it works | Best when | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exclusive broker | One broker markets the aircraft to its network and listing platforms, screens buyers and runs the deal | You want maximum exposure and a single accountable lead | Commission terms, exclusivity length, and whether the broker also represents buyers |
| Sale to a dealer | A dealer buys the aircraft outright, often at a discount, and resells it | Speed and certainty matter more than the last dollar | Size of the discount versus your holding costs |
| Direct or off-market sale | Owner, manager or adviser approaches known buyers quietly | Privacy is critical or a natural buyer already exists | Limited price discovery; you still need transaction counsel and escrow |
Whichever route you choose, ask for fees in writing, agree who controls buyer qualification, and confirm that sale proceeds will pass through a recognized aviation escrow agent.
Your aviation attorney and tax adviser should review the purchase agreement, especially for depreciation recapture and sales or use tax at the delivery location. Tax treatment depends on your structure and jurisdiction, so get that advice before you sign the LOI, not after.
Holding costs are the clock. Every month on the market carries hangar, insurance, crew, and maintenance-program costs. Divide your monthly fixed costs into any price reduction you are considering: often a modest early cut beats months of carrying costs.
Inspection cycles. Listing just after a major inspection lets buyers see a long runway before the next one, which supports price.
Age thresholds. JETNET’s data shows days on market rising sharply for jets older than 20 years. If your aircraft is approaching an age band where buyer financing and insurance get harder, waiting rarely helps.
Charter revenue while listed. If the aircraft is on a Part 135 certificate, it can usually keep flying charter while it is marketed, which offsets holding costs. Keep the schedule flexible enough to deliver for inspection.
Silver Air is an FAA Part 135 operator founded in 2008 that manages owners’ aircraft through its PURE Jet Management program. For an aircraft we already manage, we hold the maintenance tracking, records and operating history a buyer will want to see, and we can keep the aircraft available for charter while it is marketed so it keeps earning until closing.
[CONFIRM WITH OPS: whether Silver Air runs the remarketing itself, or coordinates with an outside broker, and any typical sale timeline Silver Air has seen on managed aircraft.]
If you are weighing whether to sell or keep the aircraft on charter to offset costs, our team can run the numbers with you. Contact us to start that conversation.
How long does it take to sell a private jet?
JETNET’s mid-2026 data shows an average of 98 days on market for pre-owned business jets, from about 54 days for jets up to five years old to about 128 days for those 26 years and older. Add several weeks after an LOI for inspection and closing.
What is my private jet worth?
Value comes from recent comparable sales adjusted for hours, cycles, inspection status, engine program enrollment, avionics and condition. A professional appraisal using JETNET, AMSTAT, Bluebook or VREF data is the starting point.
Should I complete a major inspection before selling?
Compare the inspection cost with the discount buyers will expect if it’s coming due. Listing just after a major inspection generally supports price; listing just before one invites a deduction.
Can my jet keep flying charter while it’s for sale?
Usually yes, if it’s on a Part 135 certificate. Charter revenue offsets holding costs, but you must make the aircraft available for showings and the pre-purchase inspection.
What does it cost to sell a private jet?
Expect broker or dealer fees, positioning for inspection, correcting airworthiness discrepancies, escrow, and legal and tax advice. Fees are negotiable, so get them in writing before you sign an exclusive agreement.
Is 2026 a good time to sell a business jet?
Supply is tight: about 6.5–6.6% of the jet fleet was for sale in mid-2026 according to JETNET and AMSTAT, below historic norms. But asking prices have softened, especially for large jets, so pricing realistically from the start matters.
Which companies help with private jet sales?
Options include exclusive brokers, dealers who buy outright, and aircraft managers who support the sale with records and operational coordination. Choose based on exposure, fee structure and whether the firm represents only you in the transaction.
Sources: JETNET JIQ Market Barometer, July 2026; AMSTAT Q2 2026 data as reported by GlobalAir.com, August 2026.
Reviewed October 27, 2026 by the Silver Air team.
