Big and small aircraft most popular with private jet buyers

The Pilatus PC-24 light jet and Gulfstream G700 ultra-long-range large-cabin private jet are drawing the most interest from aircraft buyers when asked about their next purchase

Big is beautiful and small is stunning. That seems to be the message from the latest research by JetNet IQ.

In a combination of its quarterly surveys over the past year, 9.7% of private aircraft operators, including corporate flight departments, choose the Pilatus PC-24 light jet as the one aircraft model are they are most interested in for their next aircraft purchase.

Gulfstream’s upcoming ultra-long-range G700 was second (8.4%), followed by the Pilatus PC-12 (6.6%), a single-engine turboprop.

Embraer’s best-selling Phenom 300 light jet was fourth (5.8%) followed by the Cessna Caravan 208B, the super-midsize Praetor 600 (4.9%), Bombardier Challenger 350 (4.3%), Dassault Falcon 6X (4.1%), Global 7500 (4.1%), and G600 (3.7%).

Asked about now COVID-19 will impact business aircraft purchase intentions by size, light jets performed the best.

Some 40.1% of respondents say their intent to buy a light jet will likely increase versus 26.4% for midsize private jets and 17.3% for large-cabin jets.

At the other end of the spectrum, 42.6% said the likelihood of buying a big private jet has decreased. About a third (32.9%) said the same for midsize jets and 30.8% for light jets.

The overall JetNet IQ business jet delivery forecast calls for 6,362 units valued at $204 billion over the next 10 years.

Gulfstream Aerospace is expected to pick up 21% of orders and 35% of revenues, while Bombardier is projected to deliver 18% of new private jets, accounting for a 25% slice of sales.

Still, Rolland Vincent, the researcher, told attendees that a supersonic private jet would be off the charts when it takes flight. “There’s already an insatiable demand,” he said. He projects the first to enter service within 10 years, saying there could be as many as three different manufacturers. Flexjet, a launch customer for the G700, also has an order for the Aerion AS2.