Selling a private jet: records, routes and fees

Your fee and likely net proceeds

The published seller-side aircraft fee is 2% on completion, subject to acceptance and written scope. A $10 million sale produces a $200,000 brokerage fee and $9.8 million before loan repayment, taxes, repairs and other closing costs. These are illustrative figures, not a valuation.

For any accepted engagement, the written mandate must state the role, fee, approved expenses, marketing permissions and reporting schedule. Under the published terms, no completed sale means no success fee. Separately authorised third-party costs have their own terms. Confirm that only one side is represented.

Six steps to sell your private jet

1. Value the aircraft. Review the model, records and relevant closed sales. Explain gaps in the evidence and separate advertised prices from completed transactions.
2. Agree the marketing plan. Start off-market if that fits your brief. Use a public listing only with your approval, and set a review date for the strategy.
3. Qualify buyers. Require proof of funds and a signed confidentiality agreement before releasing private aircraft details. Coordinate with your operator for viewings.
4. Negotiate the letter of intent. Agree price, deposit, inspection scope, milestones and other conditions with the parties' counsel. The deposit is held by the agreed aviation escrow agent.
5. Coordinate the inspection. The buyer appoints its technical team and a suitable manufacturer-authorised facility. Agree responsibility for access and for handling findings on the seller's side before the inspection.
6. Close and hand over. Coordinate payment, lien releases, registration transfer, records and aircraft delivery through the closing specialists.

Choose private or public marketing

Private outreach limits public disclosure and lets you control who receives details. It also reaches fewer buyers than an open campaign. A public listing can be more useful when broad exposure matters or the aircraft competes with many similar examples.

Compare each route on reach, privacy, price evidence, timing and reporting. You approve the route and any change. Read what a private jet broker does or compare the aircraft purchase guidance.

What moves your aircraft's price?

• Model, build year, airframe hours and cycles.
• Engine and APU programmes, remaining coverage and transfer costs.
• Maintenance status, upcoming inspections and complete logbooks.
• Avionics, cabin layout, interior condition and connectivity.
• Damage, repairs, modifications and registration history.

A price review should state what the records support and what needs checking. Any shortage of credible completed-sale evidence must remain visible. A quoted asking price is not proof of a likely sale price.