'Pre-owned business aircraft market is white-hot'

The Asset Insight Q2 AI2 2021 Market Report shows that pre-owned business aircraft experienced a 30% increase in sales volume in Q2 over Q1 2021, and a 101% increase in sales volume in Q2 2021 over Q2 2020.

Coupled with the increase in transactions, asking prices also increased, on average, 2.2% across the for-sale fleet. The Q2 AI2 Market Report covers 134 fixed-wing models and 1,450 aircraft listed for sale.

Along with the brisk transaction activity, Large Jets saw a 7% Ask Price increase while Turboprops posted a 3.2% increase in Ask Prices in the second quarter of 2021 over Q1 2021; and a 0.8% increase and 8.3% increase over Q2 2020 respectively. While activity continued to be strong for Mid-Size and Light Jets, Ask Prices for both categories were down in Q2 versus Q1 and versus 2020 – with Light Jet Ask Prices dropping over 17% year-over-year.

“Viewed from any angle, the pre-owned business aircraft market is white-hot," said Tony Kioussis, president of Asset Insight, LLC. "As sellers bring additional aircraft to the marketplace, newer/higher quality assets are snapped up by eager buyers at values very close to their Ask Price.

“We are seeing a small number of very old aircraft stay on the market, and those assets are skewing the Days on Market data. It is possible that many of those older aircraft are with their final owner and may not sell. However, we are seeing engaged sellers quickly matched with eager buyers for the bulk of the for-sale fleet, and there is no indication that this pace will slow any time soon.”

Average “Days on Market” increased over 5.1% during Q2 (406 versus 386 during Q1 ‘21) to post a record high/worst figure. The tracked fleet’s Maintenance Exposure to Ask Price Ratio (ETP Ratio) improved (decreased) to 73.5% from March’s 74.4%, following May’s record high/worst 76.3%. The ETP Ratio is a useful indicator of an aircraft’s marketability. It is computed by dividing the asset's Maintenance Exposure (the financial liability accrued with respect to future scheduled maintenance events) by its Ask Price. Days on Market analysis has shown that when the ETP Ratio is greater than 40%, a listed aircraft’s time on the market increases, usually by more than 30%. During Q2 2021, assets whose ETP Ratio was 40% or higher were listed for sale nearly 89%% longer (on average) than aircraft whose Ratio was below 40% (281 versus 530 Days on Market).

The Quality Rating covering the for-sale fleet declined in Q2 compared to Q1, but the fleet remains in the “Excellent” range. The Quality Rating for Turboprops on the market, however, improved in Q2 over Q1 2021, and increased 6.7% in Q2 2021 over Q2 2020.

Download the complete Market Report

BlueSky Business Aviation News | 29th July 2021 | Issue #616