Aero Asset reports twin-engine supply at five-year low as retail sales rise

Global helicopter sales and market intelligence firm, Aero Asset, has released its 2026 Half Year Heli Market Trends Twin-Engine edition.

Backed by Aero Asset's expertise and proprietary market intelligence, the report provides a comprehensive analysis of the global preowned twin-engine helicopter market during the first half of 2026.

The report examines retail sales activity, supply, pricing, regional market dynamics and liquidity trends across the twin-engine helicopter market. Retail sales increased 8% year-over-year (YOY), while supply for sale declined 33% to its lowest level in five years. The tighter inventory environment improved the overall absorption rate from 18 months a year ago to 11 months.

“While transaction activity increased during the first half of the year, the most significant development was the continued contraction in supply for sale,” said Valérie Pereira, Vice President of Market Research.

“Supply reached a five-year low while pricing continues to strengthen, creating a favorable environment for sellers. The improvement in absorption rate reflects a balanced market.”

Pricing

Pricing continued to strengthen during the first half of 2026, with overall median transaction prices increasing 6% YOY. Heavy twin median transaction pricing reached a five-year high, while the light and medium segments posted mixed results.

Asset Class Performance

Retail activity diverged across the three twin-engine asset classes. Medium and heavy twin markets recorded stronger retail activity during the period, while light twin sales softened. Supply tightened across all three asset classes, with both light and medium twin inventory reaching five-year lows.

Regional Trends

North America remained the largest retail transaction market during the first half of 2026, accounting for 46% of global transactions. Europe recorded the strongest growth in retail sales, increasing 75% YOY, and also held the largest concentration of available supply for sale.

Liquidity

Liquidity remained strongest in the Airbus EC/H135 and EC/H145 markets, followed by the Leonardo AW109S/SP, Bell 429 and Sikorsky S76C+/C++. The Airbus EC155B1/H155 and Sikorsky S76D ranked as the weakest-performing markets among the twin-engine models tracked by Aero Asset.

Download 2026 Half Year Heli Market Trends Twin-Engine Edition

BlueSky Business Aviation News | 24th September 2026 | Issue #859