Citation inventory is piling up. Turboprops aren't fully immune

jetAVIVA’s latest batch of market reports confirms one thing: a gain in one segment doesn’t always translate to the next. While light jets and turboprops compete for similar buyer cohorts, their similarity ends there. jetAVIVA released a broad collection of market updates covering multiple Citation variants, Phenom 100, and other popular entry-level turbine aircraft. The reports offer a snapshot of the turboprop and light jet market. The company reported CJ3 sales dropped to 2 with inventory up to 23 units and days-on-market lengthening to 134, CJ2+ inventory fell to 11 on tightening supply, CJ1 inventory fell to 17, M2 inventory held steady at 15 though sales cooled to three in August from five in July, and CJ1+ stayed subdued at 6 listed with 1 sale. PC-12 NGX and PC-12 NG both saw sales activity slow, and PC-24 sales fell to 1 while inventory rose to 17. Sellers face more competition as listings pile up The reports indicate listings are arriving faster than transactions, creating more competition among sellers. Inventory pressure appears to be increasing in several Citation categories, and even the turboprop side isn’t fully immune, with PC-12 sales activity slowing too. That means that aircraft will no longer move simply because they are listed. Pricing discipline, presentation and aircraft conditions have become more important. For CJ3 sellers, rising inventory should be viewed as a reminder that buyers now have options. CJ1 and CJ2+ sellers face contradicting signals: shrinking inventory and lengthening days on market. The takeaway also points more toward softer demand than model scarcity. The PC-12 turboprops appear more resilient than several light-jet categories. The PC-24 light jet saw its own sales pull back this cycle, although jetAVIVA optimistically claims that demand is on the rise. Industry participants often note that desirable aircraft can trade through broker networks and private channels before reaching public listing platforms, meaning the turboprop inventory may be tighter than publicly shown. Why it matters The used aircraft market is fragmenting into distinct subcategories, and the right strategy depends on which one you’re shopping. In some, patience and a finely tuned negotiation approach are the advantage. In others, waiting for the perfect aircraft to surface on the open market means missing it entirely. Understanding which market you’re in may matter more than understanding the airplane itself.