01 Nov The Private Jets the Ultra-Wealthy Are Buying Now (2026)
The Private Jets the Ultra-Wealthy Are Buying Now (2026)
Business jet shipments are still rising in 2026, large-cabin models made up 35 of Gulfstream’s 40 deliveries last quarter, and Bombardier credits “strong demand for the Global 8000” for its orders, while Textron’s Citation and Embraer’s Phenom and Praetor deliveries rose or held steady. Here is what is being delivered, ordered and resold, and what it means for a South Florida buyer, as of November 1, 2026.
Facts come from the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, manufacturers’ quarterly and half-year reports, manufacturers’ own model pages, aviation trade publications, market data firms JETNET and Argus, and official airport and FBO pages. Figures are as reported on the dates shown and may change. Everything Luxury does not sell, broker or arrange aircraft, charter flights, shares or jet cards.
The Market in Numbers: Shipments Keep Rising
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) counts every business jet delivered by its member manufacturers. According to its 2025 report (February 18, 2026), 854 business jets were shipped in 2025, up 11.8% from 764 in 2024. Airplane billings rose 16.1% to $31.0 billion. Turboprops fell 5.1% to 594.
The rise has continued into 2026. GAMA’s second-quarter report (September 3, 2026) counts 383 business jets in the first half of 2026, up 8.2% from 354 a year earlier, with airplane billings up 15.5% to $14.3 billion. As of November 1, 2026, GAMA’s press release page lists no third-quarter 2026 report yet.
| Period | Business jets shipped | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 764 | – | GAMA (Feb 18, 2026) |
| 2025 | 854 | +11.8% | GAMA (Feb 18, 2026) |
| First half 2025 | 354 | – | GAMA (Sep 3, 2026) |
| First half 2026 | 383 | +8.2% | GAMA (Sep 3, 2026) |
Who Is Delivering, and How Full the Order Books Are
Each manufacturer reports on its own calendar and counts backlog differently, so the figures below are side by side, not comparable line for line. Some backlogs cover more than business jets, as noted.
| Maker | Latest deliveries reported | Backlog | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulfstream (General Dynamics) | 40 in Q3 2026 (35 large-cabin, 5 mid-cabin), vs 39 | $25.4 billion, Aerospace segment | General Dynamics (Oct 30, 2026) |
| Bombardier | 32 in Q2 2026, vs 36 | $21.8 billion, whole company | Bombardier (Jul 30, 2026) |
| Textron Aviation (Cessna Citation) | 51 jets in Q3 2026, vs 42 | $8.0 billion, whole segment | Textron (Oct 29, 2026) |
| Dassault (Falcon) | 13 in first half 2026, vs 12 | 83 Falcons | Dassault Aviation (Jul 22, 2026) |
| Embraer (Phenom, Praetor) | 41 in Q3 2026, unchanged | $8.2 billion, executive aviation | BJT (Oct 6, 2026); AeroTime (Oct 23, 2026) |
Gulfstream. General Dynamics reported (October 30, 2026) Aerospace orders of $4.97 billion in the third quarter and a book-to-bill of 1.4, meaning new orders exceeded the segment’s revenue for the quarter. On the earnings call the same day, its chief financial officer said new aircraft orders in the first nine months of 2026 were “up over 30% from last year,” according to a transcript published by The Motley Fool. Gulfstream delivered 158 jets in 2025, up from 136, and General Dynamics forecast about 160 deliveries for 2026, AIN reported (January 28, 2026).
Bombardier. Its second-quarter release (July 30, 2026) reported a unit book-to-bill of 1.5, “driven by strong demand for the Global 8000,” and a backlog up $4.3 billion from the end of 2025. AIN reported (February 12, 2026) that Bombardier delivered 157 jets in 2025, up 11 from 2024. As of November 1, 2026, Bombardier’s latest published quarterly results cover the second quarter.
Textron Aviation. The Citation maker delivered 51 jets in the third quarter of 2026, against 42 a year earlier, and 32 turboprops, down from 39, according to Textron (October 29, 2026).
Dassault. Dassault Aviation booked 23 Falcon orders in the first half of 2026, against 8 a year earlier, and its Falcon backlog rose to 83 from 73 at the end of 2025, according to its half-year release (July 22, 2026). It keeps its 2026 target of 40 Falcon deliveries. It delivered 37 in 2025, against guidance of 40, per its year-end figures.
Embraer. Business Jet Traveler reported (October 6, 2026) 41 Embraer business jet deliveries in the third quarter: 22 light jets (two Phenom 100s and 20 Phenom 300s) and 19 Praetors (nine 500s and ten 600s). That brings the year to 115 against a forecast of 160 to 170. AeroTime reported (October 23, 2026) an executive aviation backlog of $8.2 billion, up 5% from the second quarter.
The Models Buyers Are Choosing
Ranges below are the makers’ own published maximums. Gulfstream notes that actual range depends on routing, speed, weather and outfitting. Manufacturers do not publish current list prices, so the prices shown are launch-era figures from dated reports and are not today’s prices.
| Model | Maker’s stated range | Status | Price reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulfstream G800 | 8,200 nm | FAA and EASA approval April 2025 | $71.5 million, BJT (October 2021) |
| Bombardier Global 8000 | 8,000 nm | Entered service December 2025 | About $78 million expected, AVweb (May 23, 2022) |
| Gulfstream G700 | 7,750 nm | Listed by Gulfstream | Not published |
| Dassault Falcon 10X | 7,500 nm at launch | First flight June 19, 2026; service entry scheduled 2029 | $75 million, Reuters (May 10, 2021) |
| Dassault Falcon 6X | 5,500 nm | Listed by Dassault | Not published |
| Gulfstream G400 | 4,200 nm (preliminary) | Preliminary data, per Gulfstream | $34.5 million in 2021 dollars, BJT (October 2021) |
| Gulfstream G300 | 3,600 nm (preliminary) | Certification expected late 2027, per General Dynamics | Not published |
Gulfstream G700, G800 and the Smaller G300 and G400
Gulfstream lists the G800 at 8,200 nautical miles and the G700 at 7,750, both with a high-speed cruise of Mach 0.90, on its aircraft page. Aviation Week reported (May 13, 2025) that the G800 won FAA and EASA approval in April 2025. Gulfstream’s pages give the G400 and G300 figures as “based on preliminary data and subject to change.” The G300 is listed for up to 10 passengers. On the October 30, 2026 earnings call, General Dynamics’ president said, “we expect the G300 to be certified towards the end of next year.” That is the company’s expectation, not a certainty.
Bombardier Global 8000 and Global 7500
The Global 8000 entered service in December 2025 with a listed range of 8,000 nautical miles, according to AeroTime (July 30, 2026), which gives a top speed of Mach 0.95. AVweb’s launch report (May 23, 2022) gave Mach 0.94; the two sources differ. NetJets took delivery of its first Global 8000 in March 2026, AIN reported (March 26, 2026), and will ultimately operate 24, including Global 7500 conversions.
Dassault Falcon 6X and Falcon 10X
Dassault Falcon lists the 6X at 5,500 nautical miles, 12 to 16 passengers and a cabin 78 inches high and 102 inches wide. The Falcon 10X first flew on June 19, 2026, and Dassault says its “entry into service of the Falcon 10X is scheduled for 2029,” after the program was rescheduled (half-year release, July 22, 2026).
Embraer Praetor and Phenom
Embraer’s executive jets page lists four current models: the Phenom 100EX, Phenom 300EV, Praetor 500E and Praetor 600E. Light Phenoms made up just over half of its third-quarter deliveries, per BJT.
The Pre-Owned Market: Less Inventory, Pickier Buyers
Data firm JETNET’s mid-2026 snapshot (July 29, 2026) gives these figures:
- For-sale inventory fell to 6.6% of the fleet in the first half of 2026, from 7.3% in 2025.
- Whole-aircraft resales totaled 1,115 in the first half, down 10.8% from a year earlier. Small jets were down 9.6% and medium jets down 27.1%. Large jets rose 3.8% to 332.
- Average asking prices on a trailing-12-month basis to June 2026 were $3.21 million for small jets, $5.27 million for medium jets and $12.63 million for large jets.
- Jets up to five years old averaged 54 days on market. Jets 26 years and older averaged 128.
Dealer Jetcraft is more upbeat. AIN reported (August 25, 2026) that Jetcraft’s own deal volume was about 15% above the same point in 2025. Its chief executive, Chad Anderson, said, “Production rates are gradually improving, inventory is beginning to recover in selected segments.” Jetcraft also cited JETNET data showing average days to sell falling from 215 to 199 between the first and second quarters. That is a different measure from the 98-day average in JETNET’s own snapshot, so the two should not be compared directly.
Fractional Shares and Jet Cards
Shares and cards are an alternative to owning a whole aircraft. In Argus data, fractional flying grew faster than charter or other private (Part 91) flying. According to Argus figures reported by AIN (July 29, 2026), North American fractional departures reached 371,138 in the first half of 2026, up from 332,330, about 11.7% (our arithmetic). Charter rose to 641,518 from 622,470. Other private (Part 91) flights were nearly flat. Argus forecast 3.5% fractional growth for the second half.
Two fractional providers with South Florida ties are adding aircraft:
- NetJets and NetJets Europe had 845 jets, up from 826 in December 2025, Private Jet Card Comparisons reported (March 15, 2026). NetJets has said it expects to add about 80 new jets in 2026.
- Flexjet has 347 jets under its FAA Part 135 certificate, per Private Jet Card Comparisons (September 18, 2026). It received the first Praetor 600E delivered to an operator, part of a 182-jet, $7 billion Embraer order announced in February 2025.
Jet card rates have eased. Private Jet Card Comparisons (October 5, 2026), which tracks more than 80 providers, gives these third-quarter 2026 average hourly rates:
| Cabin size | Average hourly rate, Q3 2026 | Change vs Q3 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Light | $8,333 | +0.3% |
| Midsize | $9,607 | -0.7% |
| Super midsize | $12,485 | +0.4% |
| Large cabin | $14,791 | -3.9% |
The same report counts an average of 45.3 peak days, the high-demand dates programs set aside, up 24.0% from a year earlier.
The South Florida Angle
South Florida has several business-aviation airports. Our South Florida private jet airports and FBO guide covers each one in detail. A few recent changes stand out:
- Palm Beach. Palm Beach International was renamed President Donald J. Trump International Airport on July 9, 2026, FOX 35 reported (July 9, 2026). The FAA identifier changed from PBI to DJT (KPBI to KDJT for flight plans) the same day, and the airline ticketing code followed on August 18, according to the National Business Aviation Association (July 7, 2026). Signature Aviation opened a 15,700-square-foot second terminal at the airport, it announced (November 12, 2025). NetJets has a 10,000-square-foot terminal there, built with Signature, for NetJets use only, per an airport release (dated November 6, 2012).
- Flexjet terminals. Flexjet lists West Palm Beach (shown as KPBI, the airport’s former code) and Miami (KOPF) as “coming soon” on its private terminals page. Its open Florida terminal is in Naples.
- Miami-Opa Locka Executive. Jet Aviation says its new FBO there has a 27-acre site, an 8,500-square-foot terminal, 40,000 square feet of hangar and a 540,000-square-foot ramp. Private Jet Card Comparisons reported it fully operational (July 25, 2026), with on-site U.S. Customs scheduled for the third quarter of 2026. We could not confirm that Customs has opened.
- Fort Lauderdale Executive. The City of Fort Lauderdale owns the roughly 1,000-acre airport, which reports more than 160,000 operations a year and four FBOs. The airport says its on-site Customs facility is the busiest in the U.S. for clearing international general aviation arrivals.
- Boca Raton. The airport reports more than 83,000 operations a year and two full-service FBOs, Atlantic Aviation and Signature Flight Support. It warns that aircraft with wingspans over 79 feet are likely to face longer delays at busy times, a point for owners of larger jets.
- Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International. Sheltair lists its FBO as open 24/7, with 24-hour U.S. Customs clearance and hangars of 13,500 to 30,000 square feet.
Questions to Ask Before You Buy or Join a Jet Program
- How many hours a year will I really fly, and how often across an ocean? The answer points to a card, a share or a whole jet.
- Do I need the range of a G800 or Global 8000, or does a super-midsize or a Falcon 6X cover my routes?
- For a new jet, what delivery slot is in the contract, and what happens if certification or production slips?
- For a pre-owned jet, how long has it been listed, and how does that compare with JETNET’s averages for its age?
- What did the aircraft cost to operate last year, including crew, hangar, insurance and maintenance programs?
- Is the operator on the FAA’s list of Part 135 certificate holders, and who has operational control of my flights?
- For a card, how many peak days apply, what are the daily minimums, and are rates fixed or tied to fuel?
- Which South Florida airport and FBO will I use, and can it handle my aircraft’s size at busy times?
- Have I spoken with an aviation attorney and a tax adviser about structure, sales tax and depreciation?
The Bottom Line
GAMA counted 854 business jets shipped in 2025, up 11.8%, and 383 in the first half of 2026, up 8.2%. Gulfstream, Bombardier and Dassault report rising order books, with Bombardier crediting the Global 8000 for its second-quarter orders. On the pre-owned side, JETNET reports less inventory and fewer resales in the first half of 2026, while large-jet resales rose. Fractional flying grew about 11.7% in North America in the first half, per Argus data, and jet card rates for large cabins were 3.9% lower than a year earlier, per Private Jet Card Comparisons.
More From Everything Luxury
- Private Jets at Everything Luxury
- South Florida Private Jet Airports and FBO Guide
- Buying a Pre-Owned Private Jet: Process, Inspections, Title and Tax
- What the Ultra-Wealthy Are Buying Now: Superyachts and Big Yachts
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Sources (39) · all checked November 1, 2026
- GAMA, 2025 aircraft shipment and billing report (February 18, 2026): source
- GAMA, second quarter 2026 aircraft shipment and billing report (September 3, 2026): source
- GAMA, press release archive (undated): source
- General Dynamics, third-quarter 2026 financial results, via PR Newswire (October 30, 2026): source
- The Motley Fool, General Dynamics Q3 2026 earnings call transcript (October 30, 2026): source
- AIN, Gulfstream 2025 deliveries and 2026 outlook (January 28, 2026): source
- Bombardier, second-quarter 2026 results release, via BNN Bloomberg (July 30, 2026): source
- AeroTime, Bombardier order backlog and Global 8000 (July 30, 2026): source
- AIN, Bombardier 2025 deliveries and backlog (February 12, 2026): source
- Textron, third quarter 2026 results (October 29, 2026): source
- Dassault Aviation, 2026 first half-year results release (July 22, 2026): source
- Dassault Aviation, deliveries, order intake and backlog as of December 31, 2025 (undated): source
- Business Jet Traveler, Embraer third-quarter 2026 business jet deliveries (October 6, 2026): source
- AeroTime, Embraer record backlog, reporting Embraer’s October 23, 2026 statement (undated): source
- Gulfstream, aircraft range and speed page (undated): source
- Gulfstream, G300 page (undated): source
- Aviation Week, Gulfstream G800 earns FAA and EASA approvals (May 13, 2025): source
- Business Jet Traveler, all about Gulfstream’s G400 and G800 (October 2021): source
- AVweb, Bombardier introduces the Global 8000 (May 23, 2022): source
- Cyprus Mail, Reuters report on the Falcon 10X launch (May 10, 2021): source
- Dassault Falcon, Falcon 6X page (undated): source
- Embraer, executive jets overview (undated): source
- JETNET, mid-2026 market snapshot (July 29, 2026): source
- AIN, Jetcraft on the pre-owned market (August 25, 2026): source
- AIN, Argus mid-year review of fractional and charter activity (July 29, 2026): source
- Private Jet Card Comparisons, NetJets fleet update (March 15, 2026): source
- AIN, NetJets takes delivery of its first Global 8000 (March 26, 2026): source
- Private Jet Card Comparisons, Flexjet receives first Praetor 600E (September 18, 2026): source
- Private Jet Card Comparisons, Q3 2026 jet card prices (October 5, 2026): source
- National Business Aviation Association, operators and the Palm Beach airport name change (July 7, 2026): source
- FOX 35 Orlando via KTVU, Palm Beach airport renamed (July 9, 2026): source
- Palm Beach International Airport, NetJets terminal release (November 6, 2012): source
- Signature Aviation, new Palm Beach terminal, via GlobeNewswire (November 12, 2025): source
- Flexjet, private terminals (undated): source
- Jet Aviation, full operations at Miami-Opa Locka (July 24, 2026): source
- Private Jet Card Comparisons, Jet Aviation opens Miami terminal (July 25, 2026): source
- Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, general information (undated): source
- Boca Raton Airport, home page (undated): source
- Sheltair, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International FBO (undated): source
Last updated November 1, 2026. Facts come from the sources listed above, checked on that date, and may change. Not legal, financial, tax or investment advice. Full disclaimer