The Citation CJ4 market is beginning to shift toward greater buyer choice as inventory has risen quickly from its June low while transaction activity has slowed. There are currently 19 aircraft available compared with 18 retail sales during the past six months. Supply remains moderate relative to the size of the fleet, but the direction of inventory and sales has changed enough that sellers should pay close attention to positioning heading into the fall.
Fleet Size and Availability
There are currently 19 Citation CJ4s available for sale, including 3 off-market aircraft, representing 5.6% of the fleet.
Inventory declined from 16 aircraft in March to 15 in April, 12 in May, and 11 in June. That tightening then reversed, with availability increasing to 14 in July and 18 in August before reaching 19 currently.
The market is therefore not defined by excessive supply, but by the speed at which supply has rebuilt after reaching its early-summer low.
Market Listings
Current asking prices range from $5.995 million to $9.15 million, while the six-month sold price range extends from $4.3 million to $9.15 million.
Current inventory averages 143 days on market, compared with 260 days for aircraft sold during the past six months. That substantial difference does not indicate current weakness; rather, it shows that many of the aircraft that recently closed required considerably more time to sell than today’s available inventory has accumulated so far.
As newer inventory enters the market, buyers have more alternatives and can compare similar aircraft more closely on windshield service bulletin status, engine programs, equipment, cosmetics, total time, and price.
Sales Activity
There were 18 retail sales over the past six months, including 6 off-market transactions, representing 5.3% of the fleet.
Sales were strongest earlier in the period, with five transactions in both March and May. Three aircraft sold in June, followed by two in July and just one in August.
The recent decline in sales has occurred at the same time inventory has increased, creating a noticeably different supply-and-demand picture than was present earlier this summer.
Key Takeaways
• 19 aircraft are currently available, including 3 off-market opportunities.
• 5.6% of the fleet is for sale versus 5.3% sold over the past six months.
• Inventory has risen significantly from its June low of 11 aircraft.
• 18 aircraft sold during the six-month period, including 6 off-market transactions.
• Current inventory averages 143 DOM versus 260 days for sold aircraft.
• August recorded just 1 transaction as availability continued to increase.
Key Insight
The CJ4 remains an active market, but momentum has shifted toward greater buyer choice. The more important trend is not the absolute inventory level, which remains moderate, but the speed of the change: supply has rebuilt sharply since June while monthly sales have declined. Buyers can now afford to compare aircraft more carefully, and sellers should expect stronger competition from similarly equipped alternatives. If inventory continues to build this fall without a corresponding recovery in sales, accurate pricing and strong presentation will become increasingly important.
