Aero Asset: Preowned Twin Helicopter Prices Climbed in 2024

As preowned twin-engine helicopter prices steadily increased in 2024, a drop in the number of deals and the growing supply of aircraft for sale could signal “a possible cooling trend,” according to market analysts at Aero Asset. The helicopter trading and market intelligence firm released its “2024 Annual Heli Market Trends: Twin-Engine Edition” report on Monday at Verticon.

“Our research shows a slowdown in 2024 deal volume and a growing supply for sale,” said Valerie Pereira, v-p of market research at Aero Asset. “However, the resilience in transaction prices—an 11% year-over-year increase—highlights the continued demand for quality preowned twin-engine helicopters, despite supply fluctuations.”

The number of preowned twin-engine helicopter sales declined by 8% year over year (YOY) in 2024, whereas the supply of aircraft for sale increased by 14%. Average absorption rates for the market segment rose to 16 months of supply at current trade levels. Pereira noted that while absorption rates increased overall, the average rate fared better in the second half of 2024. 

Supply of light twin-engine helicopters on the preowned market swelled by 33% YOY, while medium-twin supply dropped by 15%. Although sales of preowned light twins remained steady year-over-year, medium-twin models saw a 22% decline in sales. Meanwhile, sales of heavy-twin helicopters hit a five-year low as the supply for sale increased by 13%.

Average transaction prices for all preowned twin-engine helicopters rose by 11% last year, with the light twin segment skyrocketing to a five-year high of about $4 million. Medium and heavy twin prices both increased by 8%, according to Aero Asset.

According to Aero Asset, the deal pipeline slowed toward the end of 2024. In the fourth quarter, there were about half as many pending deals as the same period in 2023. The number of twin-engine transactions still pending at year-end also hit a three-year low.  

North America and Europe combined accounted for more than two-thirds of the total transactions in 2024. Sales in Europe surged 29% YOY, while North America saw a modest increase of 6%.

The top-performing preowned twin-engine model in 2024 was the Airbus Helicopters H145, while the Airbus H135 and Leonardo AW109S/SP were also top contenders. Ranked at the bottom with the weakest-performing markets were the Sikorsky S-76D and Airbus H225.

Speaking to reporters at Verticon on Monday, Pereira acknowledged that geopolitical uncertainties have made it difficult to project how the market will fare through the rest of 2025. “Will retail sales volume continue to decrease or stabilize? Will regional trends shift? Will pricing continue to grow or decline? [These are] important questions … given the new U.S. administration and its plan on imposing tariffs and the continued Ukraine and Middle East conflicts. These next upcoming quarters will definitely be captivating to us all.”