Bizav Industry Billings Reach New Heights as Jets Surge

The business and general aviation industry set a new mark in 2025 with combined aircraft and helicopter billings jumping by 14.5% to a record $35.7 billion as shipments collectively topped 4,100 units, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association reported this afternoon during its annual State of the Industry review in Washington, D.C. However, the results were not uniform, with growth in the business jet and piston sector offsetting a slide in helicopter and turboprop deliveries. 

The airplane side fared better with shipments up by 2.2% overall year over year (YOY) to 3,230. Billings soared to $31 billion, a 16.1% leap over the $26.7 billion reported in 2024. The business jet segment drove these increases, with deliveries up by 11.8% to 854. 

Billings surged as Gulfstream spooled up on G700 deliveries and began G800 shipments. The Savannah, Georgia, manufacturer reported a 17% jump in revenues, bolstered by an 18-unit increase in its large-cabin shipments. Bombardier also saw a 13-unit bump in its ultra-long-range Global lines, with its revenues up by 10%.

Likewise, Textron Aviation, ironing out supply-chain issues, saw its deliveries and revenues increase by 20 units and 13%, respectively. Dassault also saw business jet deliveries increase from 31 in 2024 to 37 last year as revenues climbed to $2.1 billion, up from $1.7 billion a year earlier. And Embraer finished 2025 with its highest tally of business jet deliveries in 15 years at 155, exceeding 2024’s total by 25 deliveries

Piston aircraft deliveries also edged by 0.6%, or 10 units, to 1,782 last year. But turboprop deliveries declined by 5.1% YOY to 594. Europe-based Pilatus, facing trade tariff headwinds that led to a pause in U.S. shipments, saw PC-12 deliveries fall off by 14 units. France's Daher saw its turboprop shipments decrease from 82 in 2024 to 76 this past year. However, Textron Aviation reported a 19-unit increase in its turboprop deliveries at the same time.

Helicopter shipments were uniformly down, with piston and turbine deliveries each dipping by 1.9% to 206 and 732 units, respectively. This brought overall helicopter deliveries down by 1.9% to 938.  Even so, billings increased by 5.5% to $4.7 billion. GAMA said the final tallies may change as the shipments and billings do not include fourth-quarter results (from either year) from Leonardo, which has not yet released its year-end financials.

Robinson Helicopters saw both piston and turbine R66 deliveries fall by a combined almost 40 units to 256. However, Airbus Helicopters reported a buoyant 2025 with 373 deliveries, up from 349 in a year earlier.

“The state of the general aviation manufacturing industry remains steadfast. We continue to see robust numbers of total aircraft delivered, as well as annual billings eclipsing $35 billion, the highest it has ever been,” GAMA president and CEO James Viola said. “While some segments are seeing marginal declines in deliveries, they are all still above 2019 levels. As manufacturers work hard to meet the challenges and demands of today, they remain focused on advancing safety and innovation for the future of the entire aviation industry."