Business jet deliveries rose by nearly 10% in the first half of the year versus the same period in 2024, according to the latest quarterly delivery report from the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA). OEMs handed over 354 business jets through the first six months compared to 322 a year ago, contributing to a more than $1 billion increase in aircraft billings, to $12.3 billion for the period.
All of the major business jet OEMs either saw improvement or equaled their performance from last year. Embraer saw the largest year-over-year (YOY) increase—36%—delivering 61 business jets in the first half. The Brazilian manufacturer has focused on evening out its production across the entire year rather than backloading it towards the end. This year, it delivered 12 more of its larger Praetor 500 and 600 twinjet than it did in the first half of 2024.
Gulfstream also saw a significant YOY gain, with the Savannah airframer handing over 13 more jets in the first six months, including 10 additional large-cabin jets. Textron Aviation improved on its first-half 2024 total by two Cessna Citations for a total of 80 deliveries in the first half of this year.
In Canada, Bombardier remained static, with 59 deliveries in the first half of both years. Dassault, which only reports twice a year, delivered 12 Falcon jets in the first half of the year, the same as it did during the same span in 2024.
Likewise, Honda Aircraft handed over four light HondaJets in the opening half of both years, while Cirrus delivered two more SF50 Vision Jets than it did a year ago, for a total of 45 in the first half. Pilatus was one airframe off the pace it set last year for its PC-24.
On the bizliner side, Airbus delivered an ACJ330-200 and an ACJ TwoTwenty this year, one more aircraft than last year, while Boeing reported no BBJ deliveries in the first half of this year compared to one in the same span in 2024.
Turboprops Decline
The turboprop segment overall saw a 4.3% decrease in deliveries YOY. Due to the continuing ramp-up in its new flagship M700 Fury, Piper saw a 61% improvement across its turboprop deliveries. Piper more than doubled output of the airplane, moving from seven in 1H 2024 to 16 in the first six months of this year.
Textron Aviation remained static among turboprops with 64 delivered in the first half of both years. While its King Air deliveries dropped, the number of Grand Caravans handed over increased from 29 to 40 to take up the slack.
Between utility Kodiaks and the speedy TBM 960, Daher delivered five fewer aircraft this year than it did in the first half of 2024, while normally consistent Pilatus logged six fewer PC-12 deliveries this year than it did in the two quarters a year ago.
Epic Aircraft delivered 11 E1000 GX singles a year ago, but only seven in the same span this year, as it ramps up its newest model, the E1000 AX.
Lastly, Piaggio, which recently changed hands after a prolonged bankruptcy protection, delivered an Avanti Evo pusher twin in the first half of this year.
Piston-powered aircraft improved by 5% to 810 deliveries in the first half of the year.
Rotorcraft Flat
Overall rotorcraft deliveries for the first half of the year saw minor erosion, with the turbine-powered segment faring slightly worse, down 2.3% from a year ago. Despite that, billings for the rotorcraft segment rose by 20% to $2 billion. The decrease was driven largely by Robinson Helicopter’s R66, with deliveries off by 40% YOY. The Torrance, California OEM handed over 39 of the single-engine R-66 in the first six months of this year, compared to 65 in the same span last year. Robinson noted a shortage of RR300 engine deliveries from Rolls-Royce, due in large part to detailed part shortages requiring specialty materials and processes. The OEM said it continues to assemble R66 aircraft through near completion and expects to make up ground delivery-wise as the pace of engine deliveries has begun to increase.
On the other hand, Textron subsidiary Bell had a better than 20% increase compared to the first half of 2024, increasing deliveries of the light single 407GXi by six units and the twin-engine utility 412EPX by five.
Airbus Helicopters delivered six more units this year than it did in the first six months of 2024, with nine more H145s and additional H160s than it handed over a year ago.
Italy-based Leonardo had four fewer deliveries this year than it did in first-half 2024, while Enstrom, which handed over two of its Rolls-Royce-powered 480Bs in the first quarter last year, had no deliveries in the first six months of 2025.
Sikorsky delivered one large-cabin S-92 in the first quarter of this year, but none in the first six months of 2024.
“It is encouraging to see continued growth within some of the general aviation aircraft segments through the first half of the year,” GAMA president and CEO James Viola told AIN. “To sustain and improve this trajectory for the industry, it will be important that we continue working to address ongoing supply chain issues and trade negotiations that will maintain the industry’s position as a leader in driving innovation, enhancing safety, and strengthening economic opportunities.”
Business jet deliveries rose by nearly 10% in the first half of the year versus the same period in 2024, according to the latest quarterly delivery report from the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA). OEMs handed over 354 business jets through the first six months compared to 322 a year ago, contributing to a more than $1 billion increase in aircraft billings, to $12.3 billion for the period.
All of the major business jet OEMs either saw improvement or equaled their performance from last year. Embraer saw the largest year-over-year (YOY) increase—36%—delivering 61 business jets in the first half. The Brazilian manufacturer has focused on evening out its production across the entire year rather than backloading it towards the end.
Gulfstream also saw a significant YOY gain, with the Savannah airframer handing over 13 more jets in the first six months, including 10 additional large-cabin jets. Textron Aviation improved on its first-half 2024 total by two Cessna Citations for a total of 80 deliveries in the first half of this year. Bombardier remained static, with 59 deliveries in the first half of both years. Dassault, which only reports twice a year, delivered 12 Falcon jets in the first half of the year, the same as it did during the same span in 2024.
The turboprop segment overall saw a 4.3% decrease in deliveries YOY. Due to the continuing ramp-up in its new flagship M700 Fury, Piper saw a 61% improvement across its turboprop deliveries.Textron Aviation remained static among turboprops, with 64 deliveries in the first half of both years. Daher delivered five fewer aircraft this year than it did in the first half of 2024, while normally consistent Pilatus logged six fewer PC-12 deliveries this year than it did in the two quarters a year ago.
Rotorcraft deliveries for the first half of the year saw minor erosion, with the turbine-powered segment faring slightly worse, down 2.3% from a year ago. Despite that, billings for the rotorcraft segment rose by 20% to $2 billion. The decrease was driven largely by Robinson Helicopter’s R66, with deliveries off by 40% YOY. The Torrance, California OEM handed over 39 of the single-engine R-66 in the first six months of this year, compared to 65 in the same span last year.
On the other hand, Textron subsidiary Bell had a better than 20% increase compared to the first half of 2024, and Airbus Helicopters delivered six more units this year than it did in the first six months of 2024. Italy-based Leonardo had four fewer deliveries this year than it did in first half 2024.