The Citation CJ4 market enters August with inventory beginning to move higher after tightening considerably through the first half of the year. Sales activity remains healthy overall, with 19 transactions during the past six months, but July brought another relatively quiet month. With available aircraft increasing from the May and June lows, buyers have gained some additional selection while sellers are facing more competition than they did earlier this summer.
Fleet Size and Availability
There are currently 17 Citation CJ4 aircraft available for sale, including 4 off-market aircraft, representing 5.0% of the fleet.
Inventory declined steadily earlier this year, moving from 19 aircraft in February to 16 in March, 15 in April, and just 12 in both May and June. That trend reversed in July, when aircraft tracked for sale increased to 15.
Even with the recent increase, supply remains below February levels and relatively contained compared with the size of the fleet.
Market Listings
Current asking prices range from $5.995 million to $9.15 million, while reported transaction prices during the past six months range from $4.3 million to $9.15 million.
The broad pricing range reflects the significant variation possible within the CJ4 fleet, particularly across model year, total time, maintenance status, engine program enrollment, equipment, and overall aircraft condition.
Current listings average 146 days on market, compared with 253 days for aircraft sold during the past six months. That 107-day difference is noteworthy and suggests today’s available inventory is considerably fresher than the aircraft that have recently completed transactions.
Sales Activity
A total of 19 CJ4s have sold during the past six months, including 6 off-market transactions, representing 5.6% of the fleet.
Monthly transaction activity has been uneven. February recorded two sales, followed by five in March, two in April, five in May, three in June, and two in July.
While July was relatively quiet, six-month transaction volume still exceeds the number of aircraft currently available, pointing to continued underlying demand.
Key Takeaways
• 17 aircraft are currently available, including 4 off-market.
• Inventory increased in July after reaching a six-month low in May and June.
• 19 aircraft sold during the past six months, including 6 off-market transactions.
• Current supply represents 5.0% of the fleet, compared with 5.6% sold.
• Asking prices range from $5.995 million to $9.15 million.
• Current listings average 146 DOM, well below the 253-day average for sold aircraft.
Key Insight
The CJ4 remains relatively balanced, but July introduced an important change to watch. Inventory increased while monthly sales slowed to two aircraft, reversing some of the tightening seen earlier this year. That does not yet point to an oversupplied market, particularly with six-month sales still exceeding current availability, but it does mean sellers have more competition. If inventory continues to build through late summer without a corresponding increase in transactions, accurate pricing and strong aircraft presentation will become increasingly important.
