Encore sellers are entering October with substantial competition and a limited pool of active buyers. Fourteen aircraft are available, representing 9.0% of the fleet, while just six sold over the past six months; all in July and September. It is too early for these figures to show the effect of the FAA’s withdrawal of the single-pilot exemption; uneven sales and elevated inventory were already established before that development. Any additional effect on buyer demand, pricing, or selling timelines will take time to emerge. For now, sellers need to compete on the factors buyers can evaluate today: asking price, aircraft condition, engine program coverage, hours since last hot section or overhaul, and the cost of upcoming maintenance.
Fleet Size and Availability
The Citation Encore market currently has 14 aircraft available for sale, including one off-market offering, representing 9.0% of the fleet.
Inventory remained steady at 15 aircraft from April through June before declining to 12 in July. Availability increased slightly to 13 in August before falling to 11 by the end of September.
While the reduction in inventory is encouraging, the percentage of the fleet currently available remains relatively elevated. With nearly one in ten aircraft offered for sale, buyers have a reasonable selection, and sellers must compete for a relatively limited pool of active purchasers.
Market Listings
Current asking prices range from $2.65 million to $4.9 million but reported sales over the past six months ranged from $2.25 million to $3.5 million. At $1.4 million above the highest recent sale, the $4.9 million asking price is an unrealistic outlier based on current transaction evidence. Sellers should not use it to establish their own expectations, and buyers should look to comparable completed sales when evaluating value.
The substantial difference between the upper end of asking prices and completed transactions highlights the importance of understanding aircraft-specific value drivers. Engine program enrollment and hours since last overhaul are particularly significant in the Encore market, as buyers must consider the financial exposure associated with future engine maintenance.
For aircraft not enrolled on an engine program, remaining time until hot section inspections or overhauls can materially affect valuation. Two otherwise comparable aircraft may command significantly different prices depending on their engine maintenance status.
Active listings currently average 154 days on market, compared with 147 days for completed sales. These similar figures suggest that current inventory is following established marketing timelines, although aircraft with significant upcoming maintenance expenses may require additional time to attract buyers.
Sales Activity
Over the past six months, six Citation Encore aircraft have sold, representing 3.8% of the fleet.
Monthly transaction activity included no sales in April, May, or June, followed by four transactions in July. August recorded no completed sales, while September produced two transactions.
This uneven sales pattern demonstrates the relatively limited liquidity of the Encore market. Although July’s four transactions provided a meaningful boost, the absence of sales in four of the six reporting months suggests that buyer activity remains selective.
With current inventory more than double six-month transaction volume, sellers should recognize that available supply continues to exceed recent demand.
Key Takeaways
• 14 aircraft are currently available, including one off-market offering.
• Available inventory represents 9.0% of the fleet.
• Historical inventory declined from 15 aircraft in June to 11 in September.
• Current asking prices range from $2.65 million to $4.9 million.
• Six aircraft sold over the past six months, representing 3.8% of the fleet.
• Completed transactions ranged from $2.25 million to $3.5 million.
• Active listings average 154 days on market, compared with 147 days for completed sales.
• September recorded two transactions following no completed sales in August.
Key Insight
The Citation Encore market continues to demonstrate a challenging relationship between available inventory and transaction volume, with relatively limited buyer activity and a broad range of asking prices.
For sellers, engine maintenance status remains one of the most important considerations when establishing a competitive asking price. Aircraft enrolled on engine programs may offer buyers greater cost predictability, while those approaching hot section inspections or overhauls without program coverage may require pricing adjustments to account for future maintenance expenses.
For buyers, the current inventory provides opportunities to compare aircraft across a range of price points. However, evaluating engine program coverage and remaining time to major maintenance events is essential to understanding the true cost of acquisition.
Heading into the fourth quarter, the Encore market will benefit from continued sales activity, but sellers should remain realistic about pricing and marketing timelines. Aircraft that are appropriately positioned based on condition, maintenance status, and program coverage will have the strongest opportunity to attract qualified buyers.
