UBS Bizjet Market Index Flatlines at Low Level

UBS Global Research’s latest monthly business jet market index remains at 29, its lowest level since early 2009. This is well below 50, which denotes incrementally strengthening market conditions above and weakening conditions below. The firm’s “straight-up measure” of absolute business conditions came in at 4.0, also unchanged since April and “below normal,” but above that seen from late 2008 to early 2010.

Pre-owned business jet inventory last month edged down 1 percent from May and now stands at 11.3 percent of the installed base—below the historical average of 13 percent, UBS said. Inventory of young (zero to 10 years old) used jets climbed 1 percent month-over-month in June and is now at 9 percent of the installed base. Inventory levels for zero to five-year-old models have grown in six of the last 10 months, while six- to 10-year-old jet inventory has climbed in seven of the last 10 months and on an absolute basis are near their all-time high, according to UBS aerospace analysts David Straus and Darryl Genovesi.

On the upside, business jet cycles rose 1 percent in May, with charter cycles reportedly up 3 percent.