New private jet deliveries dropped by 20.4% from 809 in 2019 to 644 last year. It was the lowest total since 2004, according to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association.
“As expected, in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted general aviation and stifled the industry’s growth,” said GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce.
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However, it wasn’t all dark news. Bunce noted, “It is encouraging to see that segments of our industry saw a solid rebound in the fourth quarter of 2020.”
In the final quarter, deliveries of new private jets were down just by 9% after falling 27% in Q3 and 32% in Q2.
Year | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | FY |
2020 | 114 | 130 | 134 | 266 | 644 |
2019 | 141 | 192 | 183 | 293 | 809 |
% Change | – 19% | – 32% | – 27% | – 9% | – 20% |
The news was also brighter in other areas. Deliveries of piston airplanes were down just 0.9%, from 1,324 to 1,312 units. Turboprop deliveries fell 15.6% to 443.
In terms of new private jet deliveries, Textron’s Cessna edged out (132) Gulfstream Aerospace (127) and Bombardier (114).
OEM | 2020 | 2019 | % Change |
Airbus Corporate Jets | 5 | 6 | – 17% |
Boeing Business Jets | 1 | 2 | – 50% |
Bombardier | 114 | 142 | – 20% |
Cirrus | 73 | 81 | – 10% |
Dassault Aircraft | 34 | 40 | – 15% |
Embraer | 86 | 109 | – 21% |
Gulfstream | 127 | 147 | – 14% |
Honda Aircraft Company | 31 | 36 | – 14% |
Pilatus | 41 | 40 | + 3% |
Textron | 132 | 206 | – 36% |
Pilatus was the only OEM to deliver more business jets in 2020, increasing production from 40 to 41. Cirrus was the next best performer, delivering 73 of its SF50 personal jets, a 10% drop.