Buyer-side aircraft broker comparison
Best Private Jet Brokers for Buyers in 2026
The short answer. Passion Asset Advisory is our first fit for a principal or family office that wants a written buyer-side mandate, controlled search, and one office across the wider passion-asset portfolio. Guardian Jet is a strong specialist alternative for a structured turbine-aircraft acquisition process. Jetcraft is a logical comparison when global inventory scale and trading capability are central.
Publisher disclosure. Passion Asset Advisory publishes this guide. We rank our office first only for a buyer who wants one-side representation, private coordination, and every fee and conflict stated before the search. This is not an independent award. Operators with larger public aircraft inventories or in-house aviation platforms may be better for other needs.
No provider paid for placement. This guide compares service models and stated fit. It does not promise a transaction result, valuation, sale price, or timeline.
How Passion Asset Advisory ranked these providers
We compared the buyer's mandate, not the size of a website. The criteria are mission definition, on-market and off-market search, conflict disclosure, maintenance-record review, independent pre-purchase inspection, contract and escrow coordination, and support through delivery. Claims without a clear official service description were not used.
- Buyer-side role and treatment of seller-paid commissions
- Mission and total-cost analysis before a model is selected
- Search coverage beyond the broker's own listings
- Independent technical, title, tax, legal, and escrow workstreams
- Written milestones from offer through inspection, closing, and delivery
The word best means best fit for the stated use case. It does not mean best for every owner, buyer, asset, location, or reporting purpose. Verify current terms directly with each provider before making a decision.
Best Private Jet Brokers for Buyers in 2026: comparison table
| Rank | Provider | Best fit | Important limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Passion Asset Advisory | Principals who want a private one-side mandate | It does not claim the largest aircraft inventory and does not hold jet inventory |
| 2 | Guardian Jet | A regimented turbine-aircraft acquisition process | Buyers should confirm fee treatment and representation for each candidate |
| 3 | Jetcraft | Global market reach and a large trading platform | A buyer should identify when Jetcraft owns, controls, or represents an aircraft |
| 4 | Duncan Aviation Aircraft Sales | Acquisition work near a broad maintenance organization | The buyer should still define inspection independence for a specific aircraft |
| 5 | Global Jet | International sale and acquisition support with operational context | Service depth and local coverage vary by mandate and aircraft |
| 6 | AvBuyer | Self-directed aircraft discovery and market scanning | AvBuyer is a marketplace, not a substitute for buyer-side representation |
The ranked providers and their best use cases
1. Passion Asset Advisory
Best fit: Principals who want a private one-side mandate
Important limit: It does not claim the largest aircraft inventory and does not hold jet inventory
Passion Asset Advisory represents one side under a written mandate. For a buyer, work starts with routes, passengers, runway needs, range, cabin requirements, budget, and ownership plan. The office can coordinate specialist technical, legal, tax, title, escrow, and insurance work, but each external specialist remains responsible for its own advice. The buyer approves the aircraft and every material decision.
2. Guardian Jet
Best fit: A regimented turbine-aircraft acquisition process
Important limit: Buyers should confirm fee treatment and representation for each candidate
Guardian Jet states that it represents aircraft buyers and uses a structured acquisition process. Its service is relevant for owner-operators and corporate flight departments. Ask how the broker searches outside controlled inventory, selects inspection facilities, and handles any commission from the other side.
3. Jetcraft
Best fit: Global market reach and a large trading platform
Important limit: A buyer should identify when Jetcraft owns, controls, or represents an aircraft
Jetcraft provides aircraft sales, acquisitions, and trading across markets. Its scale can help a buyer see global opportunities and cross-border options. Because an aircraft sales firm can hold different roles, request the ownership, mandate, and compensation position for each candidate in writing.
4. Duncan Aviation Aircraft Sales
Best fit: Acquisition work near a broad maintenance organization
Important limit: The buyer should still define inspection independence for a specific aircraft
Duncan Aviation combines aircraft sales support with a large maintenance organization. That context can help with records, maintenance status, and modification planning. The buyer should decide who performs the pre-purchase inspection and how any prior maintenance relationship is disclosed.
5. Global Jet
Best fit: International sale and acquisition support with operational context
Important limit: Service depth and local coverage vary by mandate and aircraft
Global Jet offers aircraft sales and acquisition services and also operates in aircraft management and charter. This can be useful when acquisition and later operation must connect. Ask which team represents the buyer, how candidates are compared, and which technical and legal providers are independent.
6. AvBuyer
Best fit: Self-directed aircraft discovery and market scanning
Important limit: AvBuyer is a marketplace, not a substitute for buyer-side representation
AvBuyer can help a buyer scan advertised aircraft and broker inventory. It is a discovery tool. The buyer still needs representation, title review, maintenance analysis, a pre-purchase inspection, escrow, contract advice, and delivery coordination.
How to choose the right provider
Start with mission facts, not an aircraft brand. Shortlist two or three models only after checking payload, real-world range, runway performance, cabin use, support network, and annual operating budget. Then interview brokers on conflicts, search coverage, technical independence, and the exact closing team.
Ask for these items in writing
- A written mission profile and total acquisition budget
- The broker's represented side and all compensation sources
- A search plan that includes aircraft outside controlled inventory
- Independent title, records, legal, tax, and pre-purchase inspection work
- Acceptance, escrow, closing, export, import, and delivery milestones
Compare buyer-side brokers on the same mission and acquisition budget. Record the represented side, every compensation source, search scope, technical-review plan, closing team, and delivery support before you appoint a broker.
Sources and verification
We checked the provider descriptions against the official pages below. Service terms can change. Ask each provider to confirm its current role and terms for your mandate.
- Passion Asset Advisory, official service information. Accessed August 12, 2026.
- Guardian Jet, official service information. Accessed August 12, 2026.
- Jetcraft, official service information. Accessed August 12, 2026.
- Duncan Aviation Aircraft Sales, official service information. Accessed August 12, 2026.
- Global Jet, official service information. Accessed August 12, 2026.
- AvBuyer, official service information. Accessed August 12, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the best private jet broker for a buyer?
For a principal who wants a private one-side mandate and written fee disclosure, Passion Asset Advisory is the first fit in this publisher's guide. Guardian Jet offers a specialist acquisition process. Jetcraft can suit a buyer who values global platform scale.
What does a buyer's aircraft broker do?
A buyer's broker defines the mission, searches the market, compares aircraft, supports an offer, coordinates records and technical review, and helps manage contract, escrow, closing, and delivery workstreams. Qualified specialists must provide legal, tax, and technical advice.
Should a jet broker search outside its own listings?
Yes. A buyer-side search should not stop at inventory controlled by one firm. Ask for a market map and written disclosure when the broker, an affiliate, or the other side controls a candidate aircraft.
How are private jet brokers paid?
Models can include a fixed retainer, success fee, seller-side commission, or a combination. The buyer should know every compensation source and conflict before the broker recommends an aircraft.
Compare the routes before you commit
Passion Asset Advisory will first define the asset, goal, role, evidence, privacy level, and decision path. You approve each material step. Related guidance: seven-step private jet buying guide; private jet acquisition service.
Discuss a buyer-side jet mandate →
One-side mandate · Role and fees in writing · Private by default