Business jet deliveries surged in the first quarter of 2026, with manufacturers handing over 162 aircraft worldwide – a rise of almost 15% compared with the same period a year earlier – according to new figures from the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA).
The industry body said aircraft billings climbed by $1bn (£740m) to $6.1bn, representing a 19% year-on-year increase and highlighting continued strength in the business aviation market despite wider economic uncertainty.
Embraer leads growth among major manufacturers
Most leading business jet manufacturers reported higher deliveries during the first three months of the year.
Brazilian aircraft maker Embraer recorded the strongest growth among the sector’s largest producers. Deliveries rose by 26%, helped by an increase in shipments of its Praetor 500 midsize jet. The company delivered six more aircraft of the type than in the first quarter of 2025, as efforts to smooth production throughout the year continued to pay off.
Textron Aviation also posted strong gains, delivering six more business jets than a year earlier. Growth was driven largely by higher shipments of the Citation Longitude, with five additional aircraft delivered during the quarter, resulting in an increase of nearly 20%.
Meanwhile, Gulfstream Aerospace delivered 38 aircraft, up by two year-on-year, while Bombardier handed over 24 business jets, one more than in the same period last year.
French manufacturer Dassault Aviation does not publish Falcon jet delivery figures on a quarterly basis, reporting them only at the half-year and full-year stages.
Light jet segment remains strong
The light jet market also recorded healthy growth.
Swiss manufacturer Pilatus Aircraft almost doubled deliveries of its PC-24 light jet, handing over nine aircraft during the quarter.
US aircraft maker Cirrus Aircraft delivered 21 Vision Jets, two more than a year earlier, while Honda Aircraft Company delivered three HondaJets, one fewer than in the first quarter of 2025.
In the larger business airliner market, Airbus recorded a single delivery of an ACJ320, compared with none in the same period last year. Rival Boeing did not deliver any BBJ aircraft during either quarter.
Business turboprops outperform the wider market
Although overall turboprop deliveries fell by more than 3%, higher-end business aviation models continued to gain ground.
Pilatus delivered 15 PC-12 aircraft, an increase of more than 36% compared with the first quarter of 2025.
French manufacturer Daher improved its performance with deliveries of nine TBM 980 aircraft and additional Kodiak turboprops, while Epic Aircraft delivered seven E1000 aircraft, one more than a year earlier.
Piper Aircraft also increased deliveries across its M500, M600 and M700 product range.
Textron Aviation maintained turboprop deliveries at 29 aircraft. Higher production of King Air models offset lower deliveries of Caravan and Grand Caravan aircraft.
The piston-engine aircraft market also expanded, with deliveries rising 6.4% year-on-year to 381 units.
Helicopter deliveries decline
While fixed-wing aircraft manufacturers enjoyed a strong start to the year, the helicopter sector faced more challenging conditions.
Deliveries of turbine-powered helicopters fell by 9% compared with the first quarter of 2025, while piston-powered helicopter deliveries declined by 13%.
Airbus Helicopters was one of the few bright spots, increasing deliveries by more than 16%. The company’s H145 model proved particularly popular, with deliveries rising from 14 aircraft in the first quarter of last year to 26 this year.
Italian aerospace group Leonardo also reported growth, delivering 29 helicopters, up from 27 a year earlier.
However, Bell Textron experienced a sharp downturn, with deliveries falling by nine aircraft, a decline of 31%. Lower output of the Bell 407GXi and the absence of any 412EPX deliveries weighed on results.
California-based Robinson Helicopter Company saw deliveries of its turbine-powered R66 helicopter fall by nearly 43%, with 12 fewer aircraft delivered than in the same period last year.
Sikorsky reported no deliveries during the first quarter, compared with one S-92 helicopter delivered a year earlier.
Meanwhile, Enstrom Helicopter Corporation said it is preparing to resume deliveries of new aircraft for the first time since emerging from bankruptcy proceedings in 2022.
The latest figures suggest demand for business aviation remains resilient, particularly in the jet market, where rising deliveries and revenues indicate continued confidence among corporate and private operators despite ongoing global economic and geopolitical uncertainty.