Honeywell projects 9,950 business jet deliveries through 2035

Honeywell Aerospace projects the global business aviation fleet will grow to nearly 51,000 aircraft by 2035, a 29% increase from approximately 39,400 in 2025, according to AVweb's report of the company's 2026 Global Business Aviation Outlook released on Monday.

The forecast carries direct implications for charter availability and pricing. As the fleet expands, charter supply should increase, potentially easing peak-day scarcity. However, Honeywell projects flight hours will rise 34% over the decade — outpacing fleet growth — which could tighten availability and sustain pricing pressure during busy periods.

Fleet and delivery projections

Honeywell projects 9,950 new business jet deliveries worldwide from 2026 through 2035, a 4.4% increase over last year's forecast. The company also projects 4,200 turboprop deliveries during the same period, bringing total expected business aircraft deliveries to about 14,000 over the decade.

Midsize jets are forecast to see particularly strong growth, with their fleet projected to expand 40% by 2035. Large-cabin aircraft are expected to account for the largest share of new business jet delivery value, reflecting demand for long-range travel.

Operator demand and current activity

Operator demand shows sustained appetite. Nearly nine in ten operators surveyed by Honeywell expect to fly the same number of hours or more in 2027 than in 2026, with about one-third expecting their flight activity to increase. Business jet flight hours already increased 4% year over year during the period covered by the report, with midsize jet activity up 7% and large-cabin jet activity up 5%.

Honeywell's outlook points to continued demand for charter flights, managed aircraft and fractional ownership arrangements, which allow customers to purchase a share of an aircraft instead of owning one outright.

Geographic and market outlook

North America remains the largest market for business aviation, according to Honeywell, while Latin America and parts of Asia-Pacific offer additional growth opportunities. The divergence between fleet growth and flight hour expansion underscores a structural shift in the market: existing aircraft will fly more intensively, a factor that operators buying flight hours or charter trips should monitor for its effect on availability during peak periods.